In this video, we’re going to get into a few points that you might want to know if you’re thinking about moving to Encinitas. You might have seen some of our other videos. We’re doing vlog style tours, cruise around showing you the neighborhoods. This is stuff you might not know unless you actually live here, unless you’re a local. Some things are kind of small, but some are big and they might, depending on what you’re trying to do when you move here, might stop you from moving here. Hopefully not. But nonetheless, we’re going to get into all that today and stay tuned to the end. We’re going to get into three resources, so as you’re doing your research, you can be on top of it and know what’s exactly going on right here in Encinitas. I’m Chris Erickson.
Cassidy Lewis:
And I’m Cassidy Lewis.
Chris Erickson:
And we love making these videos for you, but we’re also real estate agents right here in North County, San Diego, so the number is popping up right now. If you guys need some help with your real estate needs, hit us up, call, text, email. We got your back when moving in and around North County, San Diego. Thanks for tuning in. Let’s get into some things you might need to know before moving to Encinitas.
Cassidy Lewis:
So here in Encinitas, there are some things that have already been banned by the city and then there’s also some proposals to ban things further. This is either for environmental purposes or health reasons. Some are big, like Chris mentioned. Some are small. And some don’t affect some people and some affect others. So let’s get into them. One of the first bans is on smoking. Since 2014 there’s been some bans like parks, beaches, within 20 feet of restaurants, things like that. But now they’re going to expand that to pretty much everywhere in public places.
Chris Erickson:
The next ban is something that will definitely affect you if you get food to go, which most people who live here do. Recently, within the past few years, Encinitas has banned all styrofoam containers or EPS. So that includes any to go food containers that were that old foam, that old white foam. They do have new ones obviously that are a little more eco-friendly, little like paper made, paper…
Cassidy Lewis:
Cardboard?
Chris Erickson:
Cardboard, paper made. I don’t know. They’re just a little more environmental friendly. They’re not that EPS foam, so they have banned that. Also foam coolers, you won’t find those in stores. Even plastic spoons, knives, all that kind of stuff to go.
Cassidy Lewis:
This next one is a big one for me. It happened a couple years ago. Encinitas banned plastic straws, which really just made it so I went to a Starbucks in Carlsbad instead of Encinitas or in San Marcos where our local one is. They did have paper straws for a while in Encinitas, but I think they have other options now as well. And the other part of that rule too is now you have to ask for it rather than them just assuming and putting it with your drink.
Chris Erickson:
Now the next one is affecting if you have a landscaper or if you’re doing it yourself. There are no gas blowers and there’s actually only hours you can use them too. So all of our landscapers around here have switched to electric blowers that cruise around with these giant backpacks like battery powered cruise around. So the effect being quieter, but they’re also trying to reduce some gas emissions and stuff. Who knows what effect it has because you can still use gas powered lawnmowers and that kind of stuff. That was just one component of landscaping. But no more glass blowers. You’re not going to see them around, maybe. I’ve seen them around. But you’re not supposed to have them right here in Encinitas and you’re not supposed to use them.
Cassidy Lewis:
The last one that we’re going to chat about is the ban on booze. And it’s been banned for a while in most San Diego beaches, but there are some parks here in Encinitas that have that ban as well. The one we’re at right now is right across the street from the Encinitas Library. You’re not allowed to have booze here, but there are some like the Encinitas Community Park where you’re allowed to have beer and wine if you’re having party or something like that. That is an option.
Chris Erickson:
Now hopping into housing, which definitely may affect you if you’re thinking about moving out here, doing a few things to your property, potentially building. Encinitas recently required all new construction housing wise to be electric, everything, all the appliances electric. There’s no gas meter, there’s no propane lines going there. Now if you are building a restaurant or something, they do have some exceptions or even for housing for certain cases. But for the most part, any new construction. So if you are a chef or something or you really like to cook over that flame, you’re going to want to focus on houses that have been already built and not come in and build your own.
Cassidy Lewis:
And this is something to think about too. If you are looking at houses and it needs a major remodel, if you’re pulling a permit for a major remodel, they will make you change out those appliances as well.
Chris Erickson:
And it’s not just your gas cooktop, it’s also your dryer, your furnace, everything in your house that can potentially be gas, new builds and new big construction projects or remodels, you’re going to have to be all electric.
Cassidy Lewis:
One of the things to think about too, on top of no gas appliances is just construction in general here in Encinitas. It does tend to be a little tougher than communities around us. Carlsbad for instance, is one that’s very pro building and is way easier to get permits through than Encinitas. And then there’s just some things to take into account too. There are zones here in Encinitas that are coastal zones, which just make permitting a little bit tougher and a little bit longer process. And if you are looking super coastal and Bluff front homes in Encinitas, one of the things to think about too is that you cannot build stairs anymore. You will see a lot of properties that already have them, but you cannot build new stairs. You can only maintain the ones that are currently there.
Chris Erickson:
Now hopping into ADUs, or accessory dwelling units, those little houses people are building in their backyards, there have been some improvements on that. There’s permit ready ADUs that are available here in Encinitas. So they have a few plans that are ready to go save you a little bit of that permitting cost and time. So if you choose any of those with very little modifications, you can pop those into your backyard pretty easily. However, some people build those thinking that they’re going to use them as short term rentals, Airbnb, all that kind of stuff. You cannot do that.
So that brings us to our next point, Airbnb status out here in Encinitas. If you are thinking you want to do that, you want to have a house, build the ADU, you can’t rent that back one out. The only properties that you can use for short term vacation rentals are single family homes and duplex homes. So if you’re moving out too and you want to buy a condo or anything like that that’s attached, townhomes, you cannot rent those out. And most HOAs and CC&Rs within those communities don’t allow it anyways, they have a 30 day minimum, but Encinitas doesn’t allow it as well.
Cassidy Lewis:
Let’s get into some random small things that don’t really change much about your life, but-
Chris Erickson:
They’re good to know.
Cassidy Lewis:
… they’re good to know. And some of these are California also. So if you’re going to the grocery store or markets or stores, they will be charging you. If you didn’t bring your own bag and you need a bag, they’ll be charging you 10 cents for paper or plastic bags. That’s just something to keep in mind. Have those reusable bags in your trunk at all times.
Chris Erickson:
And the next one is something we just went through because my little guy just turned four, helium balloons. They don’t allow helium balloons right here in Encinitas. So if you’re going to Party City to get some balloons, they’ll fill them up, but just with air, and they teamed up with the Surfrider Foundation to prevent that just because, not necessarily the balloons, those are trash too, but when the people are releasing them, they don’t want them just landing in the ocean or random places throughout the city. So there’s no helium balloons right here in Encinitas, so I don’t know if that’s going to change your birthday celebration.
Cassidy Lewis:
A little tip too is you could drive to St. Marcos party City and they do have helium there. Another thing, if you’ve got kids and you’re thinking about schools, especially if they are in that preschool age, the state is now talking about funding transitional kindergarten, which is for those kids on the bubble age wise that don’t fit into kindergarten, but are maybe a little too old for preschool. So they’re going to start pushing to have that in all districts. There are a couple that are holding out, Cardiff, Encinitas Rancho Santa Fe. They don’t want that unless the state is going to fund it. There are some communities surrounding Encinitas, like San Marcos, that do have transitional kindergarten as well.
Chris Erickson:
And what that means for you is if you do have a kid in that extra range plan for an extra year of preschool, which is not cheap. There’s a bunch of good preschools right here in Encinitas, but that whole extra year of full-time preschool gets pretty expensive. And Encinitas as well is trying to get people to cruise around, use less cars with all that green and stuff. They want people to actually bike more. I couldn’t find it anywhere, but I know they are doing things around Encinitas, like a bike initiative. So making it more bike friendly. Down Coast Highway, actually in Cardiff right off the 101, they added an extra bike lane.
Down Leucadia Boulevard they have these painted lanes with cones, protecting bikers as well down. Tracking along the freeway from Santa Fe down to Manchester, they have a new route that goes so if you’re riding your bike, you can get through that route tracking right along the freeway where you don’t have to get on the freeway obviously, but goes back into Cardiff back there. Down Leucadia Streetscape as well, they’re building that out and making it one lane to add another lane for bikes. So make that a little more bike friendly. And we’re just seeing more and more of that through the city. And I would assume we’d see more and more going forward, especially with more people e-biking and with that push to use different modes of transportation besides your car.
Cassidy Lewis:
So as promised, we have those three resources for you to have in your back pocket if you are thinking about moving here to Encinitas. And the first one is the Encinitas City website. Encinitasca.gov is a great spot to be able to see what they’re doing, what the city’s up to. The second one is our little local newspaper, which is The Coast News. You can follow them on Instagram. You can go to their website, and there’s a ton of great resources on just what’s happening here. And the third resource is us. Reminder, we are real estate agents here in North County, San Diego so if you are thinking about moving, give us a call, shoot us a text, send us an email. We’ve got your back when moving to North County, San Diego. We’ll catch on the next one.