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The provisions of the Zoning Regulations, as they existed prior to the effective date of Ordinance No. XXXX, are repealed and superseded as provided in the ordinance enacting this Title 17.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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▸ Title 17 — ZONING REGULATIONS CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
Overview- Article 1 — ENACTMENT, APPLICABILITY, AND ENFORCEMENT
- Chapter 17.02 — PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY OF THE ZONING REGULA…
- Chapter 17.04 — INTERPRETATION OF THE ZONING REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.06 — ZONES ESTABLISHED AND ZONING MAP
- Chapter 17.12 — AGRICULTURAL (AG) ZONE
- Chapter 17.14 — CONSERVATION/OPEN SPACE (C/OS) ZONE
- Chapter 17.16 — LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) ZONE
- Chapter 17.18 — MEDIUM-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (R-2) ZONE
- Chapter 17.20 — MEDIUM-HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (R-3) ZONE
- Chapter 17.22 — HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (R-4) ZONE
- Chapter 17.24 — OFFICE (O) ZONE
- Chapter 17.26 — NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL (C-N) ZONE
- Chapter 17.28 — COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (C-C) ZONE
- Chapter 17.30 — RETAIL COMMERCIAL (C-R) ZONE
- Chapter 17.32 — DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL (C-D) ZONE
- Chapter 17.34 — TOURIST COMMERCIAL (C-T) ZONE
- Chapter 17.36 — SERVICE COMMERCIAL (C-S) ZONE
- Chapter 17.38 — RESERVED
- Chapter 17.40 — MANUFACTURING (M) ZONE
- Chapter 17.42 — BUSINESS PARK (BP) ZONE
- Chapter 17.44 — RESERVED
- Chapter 17.46 — PUBLIC FACILITY (PF) ZONE
- Chapter 17.48 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (PD) OVERLAY ZONE
- Chapter 17.50 — SPECIFIC PLAN (SP) OVERLAY ZONE
- Chapter 17.52 — SPECIAL FOCUS AREA (S-F) OVERLAY ZONE
- Chapter 17.54 — DOWNTOWN (D) OVERLAY ZONE
- Chapter 17.56 — HISTORICAL PRESERVATION (H) OVERLAY ZONE
- Chapter 17.58 — MIXED USE (MU) OVERLAY ZONE
- Chapter 17.60 — SPECIAL CONSIDERATION (S) OVERLAY ZONE
- Chapter 17.62 — RESERVED
- Chapter 17.64 — AIRPORT (AOZ) OVERLAY ZONE
- Chapter 17.66 — RESERVED
- Chapter 17.70 — SITE DEVELOPMENT AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STAND…
- Chapter 17.72 — ~~PARKING AND LOADINGP~~ ARKING AND LOADING
- Chapter 17.74 — PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Chapter 17.76 — PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS
- Chapter 17.78 — FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION
- Chapter 17.80 — STREET REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.90 — RESERVED
- Chapter 17.92 — NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES
- Chapter 17.94 — NONCONFORMING USES
- Chapter 17.96 — NONCONFORMING LOTS
- Chapter 17.104 — PERMIT APPLICATION FILING AND PROCESSING
- Chapter 17.106 — DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
- Chapter 17.108 — DIRECTOR’S ACTION
- Chapter 17.109 — DIRECTOR’S HEARING
- Chapter 17.110 — MINOR USE PERMITS AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
- Chapter 17.112 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
- Chapter 17.113 — TEMPORARY USE PERMITS
- Chapter 17.114 — VARIANCES
- Chapter 17.120 — ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
- Chapter 17.122 — PUBLIC NOTICES AND HEARINGS
- Chapter 17.124 — AMENDMENTS - ZONING REGULATIONS AND ZONING MAP
- Chapter 17.126 — APPEALS
- Chapter 17.128 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
- Chapter 17.130 — GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
- Chapter 17.132 — ENFORCEMENT
- Chapter 17.138 — INCLUSIONARY HOUSING REQUIREMENTS
- Chapter 17.140 — AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES
- Chapter 17.142 — DOWNTOWN HOUSING CONVERSION REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.144 — RESIDENTIAL GROWTH MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.146 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY STANDARDS
- Chapter 17.148 — HIGH-OCCUPANCY RESIDENTIAL USE REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.154 — DEFINITIONS PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION 17.154.0…
- Chapter 17.158 — GENERAL DEFINITIONS