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Title 17 — ZONING REGULATIONS CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

Chapter 17.30 — RETAIL COMMERCIAL (C-R) ZONE

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

17.30.010 – Purpose and Application

The C-R zone is intended to accommodate a wide range of retail sales, business, personal, and professional services, as well as recreation, entertainment, transient lodging, and limited residential uses. The land uses allowed in this zone will generally serve the entire community and the region, as well as tourists and travelers.

17.30.020 – Development Standards

The general property development standards for the C-R zone shall be as set forth in Table 2-17: C-R Zone Development Standards. See also Section 16.18.030 (Subdivisions; Lot Dimensions) for minimum lot dimensions.

Table 2-17: C-R Zone Development Standards
Development Standard C-R Zone Additional Regulations
Maximum
Density
Residential 36 units/acre Maximum density includes dwelling units in hotels and
motels, but not including other hotel or motel rooms such as
conference rooms and dining facilities that are not
considered dwelling units.See also Section 17.70.040
(Density)17.16.010.
g
considered dwelling units.See also Section
(Density)17.16.010.

(Density
Minimum Setbacks
Front No setback required unless adjacent to zone with minimum setback requirement, in
which case the adjoining setback shall be as provided in the zone of adjacent lot. Lots
separated by streets or other rights-of-way are not considered adjacent. If more than
one zone is adjacent, the largest setback shall be required.
Interior Side and Rear
Corner Lot – Street Side
Maximum Building Height 45 feet See also Sections17.70.080 (Height Measurement and
Exceptions) 17.16.020 and 17.16.040
Maximum Lot Coverage 100%
See also Section
17.70.120 (Lot Coverage) 17.16.030

Maximum Floor Area Ratio
3.0
In the Downtown, as mapped in the General Plan Land Use
Element, a site that receives transfer of development credit
for open space protection may have a FAR of up 4.0.See
also Section 17.70.060 (FAR Measurement and Exceptions)
Minimum Lot Area 9,000 square feet
See also Section 16.18.030 (Subdivisions; Lot Dimensions)
Edge Condition
Requirements
See Section 17.70.050 (Edge Conditions)XXX

17.30.030 – Additional Regulations

A. Maximum Retail Sales Building Size in the C-R Zone.

1. No retail sales establishment (commercial building) shall exceed 60,000 square feet of gross floor area, unless excepted by subsection (C.2) of this Section or for nonconforming buildings structures per Section Chapter 17.16.035 17.92 (Nonconforming Structures).

2. An applicant may request a retail sales building larger than 60,000 square feet, but in no case larger than 140,000 square feet through the Conditional Use Permit process. In granting a request for a retail sale establishment of up to 140,000 square feet of gross floor area, the Planning Commission shall be required to make all of the following findings:

  • a. The proposed use will serve the community, in whole or in significant part, and the nature of the use requires a larger size in order to function;

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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ZONING REGULATIONS – TITLE 17

  • b. The building in which the use is to be located is designed in discrete elements that respect the scale of development in the surrounding area; and

  • c. The new building is designed in compliance with the City’s Design Guidelines for large-scale retail projects.

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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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