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Title 17 — ZONING REGULATIONS CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

Chapter 17.02 — PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY OF THE ZONING REGULATIONS

San Luis Obispo Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-06 · San Luis Obispo

17.02.010 – Title

The provisions of Title 17 of the City of San Luis Obispo Municipal Code shall be known and cited as the "City of San Luis Obispo Zoning Regulations" or “Zoning Regulations.”

17.02.020 – Purpose and Authority

  • A. Purpose. The Zoning Regulations are intended to guide the development of the City in an orderly manner, implement the policies of the General Plan, protect and enhance the quality of the natural and built environment, promote the public health, safety and general welfare by regulating the use of land and buildings and the location and basic form of structures, and provide the physical, environmental, economic, and social advantages that result from the orderly planned use of land resources.

  • B. Authority. The Zoning Regulations are enacted based on the authority vested in the City of San Luis Obispo and its Charter, and the State of California, including but not limited to the State Constitution, Planning and Zoning Law (California Government Code Section 65800 et seq.), and the California Health and Safety Code.

17.02.030 – General Requirements

Land or buildings may be used and structures may be erected or altered only in accordance with the regulations in this Title 17.

17.02.040 – Relationship to Prior Ordinances and Other Codes

The provisions of the Zoning Regulations, as they existed prior to the effective date of Ordinance No. XXXX, are repealed and superseded as provided in the ordinance enacting this Title 17. No provision of the Zoning Regulations shall validate or legalize any land use or structure established, constructed, or maintained in violation of the Zoning Regulations as it existed prior to repeal by the ordinance enacting these Zoning Regulations, except as addressed by nonconformities created by the Zoning Regulations.

17.02.050 – General Relationship to Other Regulations

The regulations of this Title and requirements or conditions imposed pursuant to this Title shall not supersede any other regulations or requirements adopted or imposed by the City, the State of California, or any Federal agency that has jurisdiction by law over uses and development authorized by this Title. All uses and development authorized by this Title shall comply with all other such regulations and requirements. Where conflict occurs between the provisions of this Title and any other City ordinance, Title, Chapter, Resolution, guideline or regulation, the more restrictive provisions shall control, unless otherwise specified.

17.02.060 – Relationship to California Environmental Quality Act

When a project application pursuant to the provisions of the Zoning Regulations is determined to be subject to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the application shall be reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Regulations, CEQA (Public Resources Code, Section 21000 et seq.), the CEQA Guidelines

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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ZONING REGULATIONS – TITLE 17

(Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Section 15000 et seq.), and any environmental guidelines and other applicable rules adopted by the City.

17.02.070 – Relationship to Design Guidelines

Any design guidelines adopted by the City shall be considered complementary to the development and design standards set forth in the Zoning Regulations. In the event of any conflict between adopted design guidelines and the provisions of the Zoning Regulations, the provisions of the Zoning Regulations shall govern.

17.02.080 – Relationship to Specific Plans

Specific Plans are designed to meet the requirements of the State Government Code and the City of San Luis Obispo General Plan. All uses, buildings, or structures located within a specific plan area shall comply with the provisions of the applicable Specific Plan. If such provisions conflict with the Zoning Regulations, the requirements of the adopted Specific Plan shall take precedence over the Zoning Regulations. In instances where the Specific Plan is silent, the Zoning Regulations shall prevail.

17.02.090 – Prior Rights and Violations

The enactment of the Zoning Regulations shall not terminate nor otherwise affect vested land use development permits, approvals, or agreements authorized under the provisions of any ordinance or resolution, nor shall violation of any prior ordinance or resolution be excused by the adoption of the Zoning Regulations.

17.02.100 – Severability, Partial Invalidation of the Zoning Regulations

If any portion of the Zoning Regulations is held to be invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity, constitutionality, or enforceability of the remaining portions of this title. The Council hereby declares that this Chapter and each division, section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and portion thereof is adopted without regard to the fact that one or more portions of this Chapter may be declared invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable.

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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ZONING REGULATIONS – TITLE 17

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Contents — San Luis Obispo Zoning Code
San Luis Obispo Zoning Code
  1. Title 17 — ZONING REGULATIONS CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
    Overview
    1. Article 1 — ENACTMENT, APPLICABILITY, AND ENFORCEMENT
    2. Chapter 17.02 — PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY OF THE ZONING REGULA…
    3. Chapter 17.04 — INTERPRETATION OF THE ZONING REGULATIONS
    4. Chapter 17.06 — ZONES ESTABLISHED AND ZONING MAP
    5. Chapter 17.12 — AGRICULTURAL (AG) ZONE
    6. Chapter 17.14 — CONSERVATION/OPEN SPACE (C/OS) ZONE
    7. Chapter 17.16 — LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) ZONE
    8. Chapter 17.18 — MEDIUM-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (R-2) ZONE
    9. Chapter 17.20 — MEDIUM-HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (R-3) ZONE
    10. Chapter 17.22 — HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (R-4) ZONE
    11. Chapter 17.24 — OFFICE (O) ZONE
    12. Chapter 17.26 — NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL (C-N) ZONE
    13. Chapter 17.28 — COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (C-C) ZONE
    14. Chapter 17.30 — RETAIL COMMERCIAL (C-R) ZONE
    15. Chapter 17.32 — DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL (C-D) ZONE
    16. Chapter 17.34 — TOURIST COMMERCIAL (C-T) ZONE
    17. Chapter 17.36 — SERVICE COMMERCIAL (C-S) ZONE
    18. Chapter 17.38 — RESERVED
    19. Chapter 17.40 — MANUFACTURING (M) ZONE
    20. Chapter 17.42 — BUSINESS PARK (BP) ZONE
    21. Chapter 17.44 — RESERVED
    22. Chapter 17.46 — PUBLIC FACILITY (PF) ZONE
    23. Chapter 17.48 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (PD) OVERLAY ZONE
    24. Chapter 17.50 — SPECIFIC PLAN (SP) OVERLAY ZONE
    25. Chapter 17.52 — SPECIAL FOCUS AREA (S-F) OVERLAY ZONE
    26. Chapter 17.54 — DOWNTOWN (D) OVERLAY ZONE
    27. Chapter 17.56 — HISTORICAL PRESERVATION (H) OVERLAY ZONE
    28. Chapter 17.58 — MIXED USE (MU) OVERLAY ZONE
    29. Chapter 17.60 — SPECIAL CONSIDERATION (S) OVERLAY ZONE
    30. Chapter 17.62 — RESERVED
    31. Chapter 17.64 — AIRPORT (AOZ) OVERLAY ZONE
    32. Chapter 17.66 — RESERVED
    33. Chapter 17.70 — SITE DEVELOPMENT AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STAND…
    34. Chapter 17.72 — ~~PARKING AND LOADINGP~~ ARKING AND LOADING
    35. Chapter 17.74 — PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
    36. Chapter 17.76 — PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS
    37. Chapter 17.78 — FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION
    38. Chapter 17.80 — STREET REGULATIONS
    39. Chapter 17.90 — RESERVED
    40. Chapter 17.92 — NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES
    41. Chapter 17.94 — NONCONFORMING USES
    42. Chapter 17.96 — NONCONFORMING LOTS
    43. Chapter 17.104 — PERMIT APPLICATION FILING AND PROCESSING
    44. Chapter 17.106 — DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
    45. Chapter 17.108 — DIRECTOR’S ACTION
    46. Chapter 17.109 — DIRECTOR’S HEARING
    47. Chapter 17.110 — MINOR USE PERMITS AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
    48. Chapter 17.112 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
    49. Chapter 17.113 — TEMPORARY USE PERMITS
    50. Chapter 17.114 — VARIANCES
    51. Chapter 17.120 — ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
    52. Chapter 17.122 — PUBLIC NOTICES AND HEARINGS
    53. Chapter 17.124 — AMENDMENTS - ZONING REGULATIONS AND ZONING MAP
    54. Chapter 17.126 — APPEALS
    55. Chapter 17.128 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
    56. Chapter 17.130 — GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
    57. Chapter 17.132 — ENFORCEMENT
    58. Chapter 17.138 — INCLUSIONARY HOUSING REQUIREMENTS
    59. Chapter 17.140 — AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES
    60. Chapter 17.142 — DOWNTOWN HOUSING CONVERSION REGULATIONS
    61. Chapter 17.144 — RESIDENTIAL GROWTH MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
    62. Chapter 17.146 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY STANDARDS
    63. Chapter 17.148 — HIGH-OCCUPANCY RESIDENTIAL USE REGULATIONS
    64. Chapter 17.154 — DEFINITIONS PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION 17.154.0…
    65. Chapter 17.158 — GENERAL DEFINITIONS

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