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 · ingested 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 Table 2-17: C-R Zone Development Standards Table 2-17: C-R Zone Development Standards Table 2-17: C-R Zone Development Standards 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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  • 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