ADU Contractors in Encinitas

The services of ADU contractors in Encinitas are becoming highly sought-after. More homeowners realize the value ADUs provide, and they do not want to miss the boat on them. You may also want to hop on the bandwagon but take this opportunity to learn more about those ADUs first.

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) 101

The term ADU is shorthand for an accessory dwelling unit. An ADU is a secondary dwelling on the same property as a single-family home. Although they are supposed to build it on the same lot as an existing residential dwelling, ADUs are supposed to be independent structures.

You may know accessory dwelling units by different names. Among the more commonly used alternative names are accessory apartments, backyard cottages, granny flats, and in-law suites. People have become more interested in building ADUs because of their great benefits. For example, building an ADU is a good idea if you want to create a guest room. You can also build an ADU to accommodate an older relative who can no longer live alone.

Many homeowners are intrigued by ADUs because of the profit potential they present. However, renting out your accessory dwelling unit can supplement your income nicely. Has the idea of building an ADU piqued your interest? Get in touch with home addition contractors in Encinitas so you can explore that idea further.

Steps to Developing an ADU

An accessory dwelling unit can be a terrific addition to your Encinitas property. So, how do you go about building one? Follow the steps detailed below so you can build an ADU of your own.

Step 1: Check if You Can Build an ADU in Your Area

Before you get too deeply invested in building an accessory dwelling unit, you should confirm that you can carry out that kind of project.
In San Diego County, ADUs can be in zones that allow residential uses. Therefore, confirm that you live in that kind of zone before you proceed any further.

It makes sense to check this now so you can be certain that the local government will clear your project. If you are fairly certain that your ADU will be allowed, you can wait to confirm that when you have already hired your contractors.

Step 2: Secure a Source of Funding for Your ADU Project

Next, you must determine how you will pay for your ADU. You have a few options to consider here. Speak to lenders in the Encinitas area and inquire specifically about home improvement loans. You may also take out a second mortgage or obtain funding through cash-out refinancing. If you are not in a rush to build, you can also save up for it. The funds available for your ADU project should inform all of your decisions from here on out.

Step 3: Hire Encinitas ADU Builders

You should now shift your attention to hiring ADU contractors in Encinitas. The process of finding ADU contractors is similar to how you would go about hiring Encinitas home builders or remodeling contractors. Start by putting together a list of candidates by referencing recommendations from people you trust and reviews available online. Sit down and interview all the candidates to ask them questions about your project. You should also speak to any references they provide to confirm that they are the real deal.

Following the interviews, you should solicit bids from your candidates. Do not feel like you have to go with the lowest bid. Instead, choose whichever contractor you believe suits your project best regarding their skillset and desired pay. Finish up by signing a contract with your chosen builders. Hiring local contractors is recommended if you wish to make the process of constructing your ADU as easy as possible.

Step 4: Specify Plans for Your ADU

It is time for you to make concrete plans for your accessory apartment. That means you must decide what kind of ADU you want to build.
You can go with an interior ADU if you have an unused room available inside your Encinitas. Convert your unused garage, basement, or attic into an ADU to be a more beneficial element of your property.

The attached ADUs connect to the main residential property but still build it from scratch. You can position the attached ADU next to your home or on top of an attached garage. Detached ADUs are stand-alone structures built somewhere on the residential lot. If you are planning to make the ADU available for rent, going with a detached unit is the right move. You will have an easier time attracting tenants if you can offer that kind of rental unit.

Homeowners can also build a junior accessory dwelling unit or JADU. As you have probably guessed, a JADU is smaller than an ADU and can only be an interior or attached structure. Determine what type of ADU you want to build so your design-and-build contractors can start drawing up plans. You should also mention any design preferences you have for the in-law suite at this point.

Step 5: Conduct a Feasibility Study

Building an ADU is not like a typical home renovation project. Since ADUs are supposed to serve as independent living quarters, you may need to add certain fixtures that can make construction more complex. There is no guarantee that your home or property can accommodate the ADU properly. That is why conducting a feasibility study before construction is crucial. Ask your home addition contractors to conduct the feasibility on your behalf.

Step 6: Finalize Your Plans

Use the information gathered by the contractors following the feasibility study to finalize the plans for your ADU. Then, adjust your plans if necessary. This is also the time when you lock in the budget and timeline for the project. Once everyone is on the same page, you can proceed to the next step.

Step 7: Procure the Building Permits and Materials

You will need a building permit to construct a backyard cottage in Encinitas. Work on securing that permit yourself, or entrust the task to your contractors. It is also best to leave the job of obtaining the building materials to the people you hired. Whether you want to use sustainable building materials or more conventional materials, they have the connections required to obtain them.

Step 8: Build the ADU

You have finished all the preparations. Once you reach this point, construction can finally begin on your accessory dwelling unit. There is not much for you to do at this point except monitor the project’s progress. You can visit the worksite regularly or drop by for occasional visits. Since you are building an ADU, you can stay in your home throughout the project. That should make it easier for you to keep an eye on things.

Do not hesitate to request changes even if work has begun on the ADU’s construction. Requesting those changes should also be quite easy if you hire a design-and-build contractor to work on your project. Continue monitoring the project until it is finished.

View our portfolio to see some examples of ADUs our contractors have built.

Clairemont Mesa ADU
Bay Park ADU
J Avenue ADU
North Park ADU
Encinitas ADU

CA State Regulations

As we mentioned earlier, constructing an accessory dwelling unit is not like completing a typical home renovation project. Instead, those projects differ because they set stricter building guidelines for ADUs. Let’s discuss the rules for building ADUs in this section of the article.

Size Restrictions

San Diego County has limits in place for how big ADUs can be. For a detached ADU, the maximum size allowed is 1,200 sq. ft. The maximum size of the detached ADU stays at 1,200 sq. ft. regardless of how big the single-family home on the property is.

Attached ADUs can only be 50% as big as the single-family home. They are also not allowed to be any bigger than 1,200 sq. ft. The maximum size allowable for a JADU is 500 sq. ft. Also, they set minimum size restrictions for both ADUs and JADUs. Both structures must have a minimum gross floor area of at least 150 sq. ft. Keep those size restrictions in mind while you are making plans with your ADU contractors in Encinitas.

Number of ADUs That You Can Build

On a lot occupied by a single-family home, the property owner can construct one accessory dwelling unit and one junior accessory dwelling unit. Rules are more relaxed if you are planning to build ADUs on a multi-family property. For example, two detached ADUs can occupy the same multiple dwelling unit zones. Furthermore, owners of those properties can also construct as many interior ADUs as they want.

Notably, JADUs are not allowed in multiple dwelling unit zones.

Occupation Requirements

Occupation requirements vary for accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units. Starting with ADUs, you are not required to occupy the one built on your property. You are not even required to occupy the single-family home on-site as well. If you have opted to build a JADU, you must live on the property it occupies. You can live inside the JADU itself or any other dwelling available on-site.

San Diego County also has occupancy requirements for tenants. Homeowners can only lease the ADU or JADU for a term no shorter than 31 consecutive days. Additionally, you cannot utilize the ADUs and JADUs as transient lodging.

What Are Some of the Costs Associated with ADUs?

What are the expenses that go along with building an accessory dwelling unit? For starters, you must consider the payment for your ADU contractors in Encinitas. It is difficult to pin down a precise number here, but you can save money by hiring design-and-build contractors because they offer reasonable rates and have a strong track record for completing projects on time, so it is easier to avoid unplanned cost growth.

You also need to consider the cost of the building materials. Hopefully, you can reduce the cost of those materials by relying on your contractor’s connections. The material cost should also be more affordable because ADUs are not especially large. When it comes to the permits, you may pay as much as $20,000 for them. The final amount will largely depend on where you live.

After accounting for all the expenses, you should expect your ADU project to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $300,000.

How Long Does It Take to Build an Accessory Dwelling Unit?

Because an ADU is a structure added to an already occupied lot, many assume you can construct it in a relatively short time. You need to set your expectations properly if you are planning to have an ADU constructed as well. From start to finish, the process of constructing an ADU will take around seven months at least. That is assuming you are building a relatively small accessory dwelling unit. If you want a more elaborate and feature-filled granny flat, the timeline for the project may extend to eighteen months.

Building an ADU is a serious undertaking, and the expected timeline for its completion is a clear indicator of that.

Serving Encinitas

Adding an ADU to your Encinitas property will likely be a wise decision on your part. If you already have property there, you can get more out of it by building an accessory dwelling unit. You should get great offers from people hoping to be your tenants. Numerous corporate heavyweights also conduct business in Encinitas. Go after your dream job after you get settled in the city. Many people move to Encinitas precisely because they want to pursue those employment opportunities.

Do not forget about the breathtaking beaches that Encinitas has to offer. The city’s events calendar is also full throughout the year, so there are always fun things for you and your family to try!

San Diego ADU Builders

Our San Diego home building company offers comprehensive services to all our clients. Tell our design build contractors about the plans you have in mind for your San Diego property, and we will use our expertise and resources to bring them to life. Get in touch with us today, and let’s start working together on your new ADU!

Some of the locations our San Diego ADU contractors serve include: Carlsbad, Cardiff, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, and more. For additional information on ADUs see our expert blog on what is an accessory dwelling unit?