Title 17 — ZONING REGULATIONS CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
Chapter 17.36 — SERVICE COMMERCIAL (C-S) ZONE
San Luis Obispo Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-06 · San Luis Obispo
17.36.010 – Purpose and Application ¶
The C-S zone is intended to provide for a wide range of service and manufacturing uses to meet local needs and some demands of the region, including services, limited retail, and other business service uses that may be less appropriate in the City’s other commercial zones. The C-S zone is also intended to accommodate certain storage, transportation, wholesaling, and light manufacturing uses. The C-S zone is intended to be applied primarily to areas that have more public exposure on arterial streets than areas reserved for manufacturing uses.
17.36.020 – Development Standards ¶
The general property development standards for the C-S zone shall be as set forth in Table 2-20: C-S Zone Development Standards. See also Section 16.18.030 (Subdivisions; Lot Dimensions) for minimum lot dimensions.
Table 2-20: C-S Zone Development Standards
| Table 2-20: C-S Zone Development Standards | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development Standard | C-S Zone | Additional Regulations | |||||
| Maximum Density |
Residential | 24 units/net acre | ~~and dining facilities that are not considered dwelling units.~~See also Section 17.70.040 (Density) |
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| Minimum Setbacks | |||||||
| Front | Where no building adjoins, 5 feet (requirement for parking lots and signs) Buildings ≤ 20 feet in height: 10 feet Buildings>20 feet in height: 15 feet |
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| Interior Side and Rear | No setback unless adjacent to zone with minimum setback requirement, in which case the adjoining setback shall be as provided in 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. |
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| Corner Lot - Street Side | Where no building adjoins, 5 feet (requirement for parking lots and signs) Buildings ≤ 20 feet in height: 10 feet Buildings>20 feet in height: 15 feet |
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| Maximum Building Height | 35 feet | See also Section17.70.080 (Height Measurement and Exceptions) |
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| Maximum Lot Coverage | 75% | See also Section | 17.70.120 (Lot Coverage | ) |
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Maximum Floor Area Ratio |
1.5 | See also Section | 17.70.060 (FAR Measurement and |
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Exceptions) |
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| 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) |
17.36.030 – Additional Regulations ~~ for Specific Uses in the C-S Zone ~~ ¶
A. Maximum Retail Building Size in the C-S zone. No retail establishment (commercial building) shall exceed 60,000 square feet of gross floor area, unless excepted
by Section 17.16.035for nonconforming structures per Chapter 17.92 (Nonconforming Structures).B. Offices in the C-S Zone. The approval of an office facility in the C-S zone shall require that the review authority find that:
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ZONING REGULATIONS – TITLE 17
1. The project will be compatible with existing and allowed land uses in the area; and
2. The project will not preclude industrial or service commercial uses in areas especially suited for these uses when compared with offices.
C. Medical Services in the C-S zone.
In order to The approval ofea Medical Office, Dental Office, or Clinic in the C- S zone shall require that, the review authorityshall be required to make all of the followingfind thatings:1. The proposed medical service is compatible with surrounding land uses;
.2. The proposed medical service is located along a street designated as an arterial or commercial collector in the circulation element; and
3. The project will not preclude service commercial uses in areas especially suited for these uses when compared with medical services.
D. Commercial Recreational in the C-S zone. The approval of a commercial recreational facility in the C-S zone shall require that the review authority to find that:
1. The proposed use will serve the community, in whole or in significant part;
2. The project will be compatible with existing and allowed land uses in the area; and
3. The project will not preclude other industrial or service commercial uses in areas especially suited for these uses when compared with recreational facilities.
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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