To the deep disappointment of some residents, Encinitas is seeing a boom in new home building. The city permitted far more homes in 2024 than in previous years — and that’s exactly what state officials want.

Encinitas, in fact, is a case study in how state housing laws are working as intended, reports our Will Huntsberry.

The boom in new construction can be traced back to 2018 when a judge forced Encinitas to upzone parts of the city to allow for more density and taller buildings. Encinitas upzoned more than a dozen properties — and it is those properties where new home construction is happening.

Encinitas residents “hate it,” said Mayor Bruce Ehlers.

While the majority of new homes are only affordable to people with “above moderate” income, roughly 22 percent of the homes permitted si

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