Fox Point Farm Earns California's First WELL for Residential™ Certification

Fox Point Farms Earns California’s First WELL for Residential™ Certification
Setting a New Standard for Wellness-Focused Living in Encinitas

Fox Point Farms by Shea Homes San Diego has officially become California’s first WELL for Residential™ Certified community—and one of only a handful worldwide to achieve this milestone since the program’s 2023 launch.

Administered by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™), this certification evaluates more than 100 different criteria assessing the home, as well as the community, with the overall “quality of life” guiding principle.

What Makes Fox Point Farms a Wellness Community?
Rooted in Encinitas’ agricultural legacy, Fox Point Farms blends people-first home design, regenerative farming, and meaningful community connection. The 21-acre agrihood includes:

• 250 homes featuring cottages, carriage units, townhomes, flats, and affordable housing

• Walking trails, edible gardens, and green paseos

• A resort-style recreation center with pool and spa

• Coastal-inspired outdoor spaces that invite connection and movement

At the heart of the neighborhood is a three-acre regenerative farm and community village, owned and operated by Nolen Communities. Here, residents enjoy access to:

• Farm-to-table restaurants

• A brewery and coffee roastery

• A produce market

• Farm classes, wellness programming, and gathering spaces

The working farm—complete with goats, pigs, alpacas, chickens, and apiaries—enriches the land through regenerative practices that help restore soil health and support local biodiversity.

What WELL for Residential™ Certification Means
To earn this distinction, Fox Point Farms was evaluated across more than 100 criteria assessing the homes and the overall community environment.
Key wellness-focused features include:

• Advanced air and water filtration systems

• Low-VOC and low-emission building materials

• Thoughtful design prioritizing comfort, light, privacy, and acoustics

• Abundant nature access through gardens, trails, and outdoor gathering areas

• Amenities that encourage movement, from paseos to fitness-friendly community layouts

• Spaces that support social connection, from the farm village to neighborhood shared areas

“Homes should do more than provide shelter—they should enhance comfort, connection, and quality of life,” says Paul Barnes, Division President of Shea Homes San Diego.
“This certification reinforces our commitment to building communities that put people first.”

Shea Homes became involved with WELL for Residential™ nearly a decade ago—Barnes even served as Chair of IWBI’s WELL for Residential Advisory in 2020—making this certification a full-circle moment of leadership and innovation.

Leading the Future of Wellness-Focused Living
As California continues to prioritize sustainable, wellness-forward development, Fox Point Farms stands as a blueprint for future communities: thoughtfully designed homes, regenerative landscapes, and a lifestyle centered on connection, nature, and well-being.

Shea Homes San Diego will continue building on this commitment through WELL for Residential™ and PURE LIVING by Shea Homes®, which integrates advanced filtration, low-VOC materials, and healthier design practices across future communities.

Fox Point Farms reflects Shea Homes’ core belief: By designing communities with people in mind, we create places that not only feel good—but truly support better living.

Looking to Learn More?

• Explore PURE LIVING by Shea Homes®

• Discover new homes at Fox Point Farms 

• Read more wellness + design insights on the Shea blog