Board of Appeals Meeting Livestream 11/4/2026

The City of Encinitas Board of Appeals meeting on November 4, 2026, considered an appeal concerning building-code requirements for a 199-unit apartment development with 40 affordable units across 15 buildings. The building official had granted a conditional 90-day extension requiring the project’s construction documents to be updated to the 2025 California Building Code. City staff cited the age and complexity of the plans and changes to structural, fire, energy, accessibility, and building-system standards. The applicant argued that the project had been diligently advanced under the 2019 code, that remaining items were limited, and that a full code update could cause major redesign costs and delay; the applicant cited approximately $180,000 in permit fees and potential millions in additional costs. The board discussed the project timeline, seismic and other life-safety implications, and possible flexibility or exceptions.

The board unanimously voted to affirm the building official’s decision to require the 2025 code as a condition of the extension. It also unanimously recommended that the city and developer work together to consider using the 2019 code with agreed-upon 2025 life-safety upgrades. No procurement, contract award, vendor selection, or purchasing action was identified; the matter concerned building permits and code compliance.