Municipal code
San Luis Obispo Municipal Code
The enacted municipal code of San Luis Obispo, California, as published — every title, chapter, and section, verbatim and citable.
- Last updated
- 2026-10-02
- Contents
- 18 titles · 2,643 sections
- Jurisdiction
- San Luis Obispo
Contents
▸Title 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
▸Title 2 — ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL
Overview- Chapter 2.04 — COUNCIL MEETINGS
- Chapter 2.08 — DEPUTY CITY CLERK
- Chapter 2.12 — PLANNING COMMISSION
- Chapter 2.14 — REVENUE ENHANCEMENT OVERSIGHT COMMISSION
- Chapter 2.16 — PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
- Chapter 2.20 — MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
- Chapter 2.24 — EMERGENCY SERVICES
- Chapter 2.28 — ELIGIBILITY FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT
- Chapter 2.30 — ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BOARD
- Chapter 2.32 — RETIREMENT SYSTEM
- Chapter 2.36 — PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS
- Chapter 2.38 — CITYWIDE SINGLE VOTE METHOD OF ELECTING CITY COUNCIL
- Chapter 2.40 — ELECTION CAMPAIGN REGULATIONS
- Chapter 2.42 — MAILED BALLOT ELECTIONS
- Chapter 2.44 — DEVELOPMENT IMPACT REVIEW PROCEDURES
- Chapter 2.48 — ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
- Chapter 2.56 — HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
- Chapter 2.60 — PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING
- Chapter 2.64 — MUNICIPAL ADVOCATES
▸Title 3 — REVENUE AND FINANCE
Overview- Chapter 3.01 — BUSINESS TAX CERTIFICATION
- Chapter 3.04 — TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX
- Chapter 3.08 — DWELLING UNIT CONSTRUCTION TAX
- Chapter 3.12 — UNIFORM SALES AND USE TAX
- Chapter 3.15 — COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS (SALES) AND
- Chapter 3.16 — UTILITY USERS’ TAX
- Chapter 3.20 — SPECIAL GAS TAX STREET IMPROVEMENT FUND
- Chapter 3.24 — PROCEDURES FOR PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AND PURCHASES
- Chapter 3.28 — GENERAL RESERVE ACCOUNT
- Chapter 3.32 — UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
- Chapter 3.36 — PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS
- Chapter 3.40 — FINANCING OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
- Chapter 3.42 — CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD
- Chapter 3.50 — FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTIONS
▸Title 5 — LICENSES, PERMITS, AND REGULATIONS
Overview- Chapter 5.01 — BUSINESS LICENSE PROGRAM
- Chapter 5.08 — MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICES
- Chapter 5.10 — CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX
- Chapter 5.16 — SOLICITORS AND PEDDLERS
- Chapter 5.20 — TAXICABS
- Chapter 5.24 — PASSENGER STAGES
- Chapter 5.32 — BINGO
- Chapter 5.36 — SERVICE STATIONS
- Chapter 5.40 — REPEALED
- Chapter 5.44 — MOBILE HOME PARK RENT STABILIZATION
- Chapter 5.45 — MOBILE HOME PARK CONVERSION
- Chapter 5.48 — SALES ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
- Chapter 5.50 — SIDEWALK CAFES
- Chapter 5.51 — PARKLETS
- Chapter 5.52 — ELECTRONIC GAME AMUSEMENT CENTERS
- Chapter 5.56 — MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS AND MASSAGE TECHNICIANS
- Chapter 5.60 — POSTING
- Chapter 5.64 — PUBLIC DANCES
- Chapter 5.68 — CARDROOMS
- Chapter 5.72 — PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO HOLDERS OF STATE VIDEO FRANCHISES
- Chapter 5.80 — PARADES AND ASSEMBLIES
- Chapter 5.84 — FILMING REGULATIONS
- Title 7 — (RESERVED)
▸Title 8 — HEALTH AND SAFETY
Overview- Chapter 8.04 — SOLID WASTE, RECYCLING, AND ORGANIC WASTE
- Chapter 8.05 — CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS RECYCLING PROGRAM
- Chapter 8.06 — EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE
- Chapter 8.07 — PLASTIC BOTTLED BEVERAGES AND WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS
- Chapter 8.08 — HAZARDOUS WEEDS AND DEBRIS
- Chapter 8.09 — SINGLE-USE FOODWARE ACCESSORIES AND STANDARD CONDIMENTS
- Chapter 8.10 — SHOPPING CARTS
- Chapter 8.11 — ALL-ELECTRIC NEW BUILDINGS
- Chapter 8.12 — ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS OBSTRUCTIONS IN STREAMBEDS
- Chapter 8.14 — TOBACCO RETAILER LICENSES
- Chapter 8.16 — SMOKING PROHIBITED AND SECONDHAND SMOKE CONTROL
- Chapter 8.17 — CIGARETTE VENDING MACHINES
- Chapter 8.18 — REGULATION OF THE SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF TOBACCO
- Chapter 8.20 — FOOD HANDLING
- Chapter 8.22 — OFFENSIVE ODORS
- Chapter 8.24 — NUISANCE ABATEMENT
- Chapter 8.28 — HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS TRANSPORT
- Chapter 8.32 — LIABILITY FOR COSTS OF RESPONSE TO HAZARDOUS WASTE OR
▸Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
Overview- Chapter 9.04 — POSSESSION OF OPEN CONTAINERS OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC
- Chapter 9.05 — UNDERAGE PERSONS AND ALCOHOL
- Chapter 9.06 — PROHIBITION ON AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION
- Chapter 9.08 — DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
- Chapter 9.09 — PSYCHOACTIVE HERBAL INCENSE, PSYCHOACTIVE BATH SALTS AND
- Chapter 9.10 — CANNABIS REGULATIONS
- Chapter 9.12 — NOISE CONTROL
- Chapter 9.13 — UNRULY GATHERINGS
- Chapter 9.16 — WEAPONS
- Chapter 9.20 — MISCELLANEOUS PROHIBITIONS
- Chapter 9.21 — SECOND RESPONSE COST RECOVERY
- Chapter 9.22 — SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ZONES
- Chapter 9.30 — NUDITY IN PUBLIC PLACES
- Chapter 9.40 — PUBLIC BENCHES
- Chapter 9.50 — CURFEW
- Chapter 9.60 — ENFORCEMENT
▸Title 10 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Overview- Chapter 10.04 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 10.08 — ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 10.12 — ENFORCEMENT AND OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
- Chapter 10.14 — TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES
- Chapter 10.16 — TURNING MOVEMENTS
- Chapter 10.20 — ONE-WAY STREETS AND ALLEYS
- Chapter 10.24 — SPECIAL STOPS REQUIRED
- Chapter 10.28 — MISCELLANEOUS DRIVING RULES
- Chapter 10.32 — PEDESTRIAN REGULATIONS
- Chapter 10.34 — OVERNIGHT CAMPING PROHIBITED ON CITY STREETS AND CITY
- Chapter 10.36 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES OR IN
- Chapter 10.40 — STOPPING, STANDING OR PARKING RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED IN
- Chapter 10.44 — STOPPING FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING ONLY
- Chapter 10.48 — RESTRICTED USE OF CERTAIN STREETS
- Chapter 10.52 — PARKING METERS AND PARKING PAYMENT CENTERS
- Chapter 10.56 — SPEED ZONES
- Chapter 10.60 — OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISIBILITY
- Chapter 10.64 — PARKING REVENUES, FINES AND FORFEITURES
- Chapter 10.68 — INOPERATIVE VEHICLES
- Chapter 10.72 — BICYCLES
- Chapter 10.76 — COASTERS, ROLLER SKATES AND SIMILAR DEVICES
- Chapter 10.80 — OVERSIZE AND OVERWEIGHT VEHICLES
- Chapter 10.84 — MINIMUM PENALTY FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
▸Title 11 — AIR QUALITY
▸Title 12 — STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES
Overview- Chapter 12.04 — ENCROACHMENTS AND EXCAVATIONS
- Chapter 12.08 — URBAN STORMWATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND DISCHARGE
- Chapter 12.12 — CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR OF SIDEWALKS
- Chapter 12.16 — CURBS, GUTTERS AND SIDEWALK AREA
- Chapter 12.20 — PARK REGULATIONS
- Chapter 12.22 — OPEN SPACE REGULATIONS
- Chapter 12.23 — CREEKS, TRIBUTARIES AND RIPARIAN CORRIDOR REGULATIONS
- Chapter 12.24 — TREE REGULATIONS
- Chapter 12.32 — STREET NAME AND ADDRESS REGULATIONS
- Chapter 12.36 — DOWNTOWN PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA
- Chapter 12.38 — PARKING AND DRIVEWAY STANDARDS
- Chapter 12.40 — MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS
- Chapter 12.42 — TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
▸Title 13 — PUBLIC SERVICES
▸Title 14 — COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
▸Title 15 — BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Overview- Chapter 15.02 — BUILDING CODES ADOPTED
- Chapter 15.04 — AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND FIRE
- Chapter 15.12 — ALARM SYSTEMS
- Chapter 15.14 — EXPEDITED PERMIT PROCESS FOR SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP
- Chapter 15.15 — EXPEDITED PERMIT PROCESS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
- Chapter 15.32 — DOCKS
- Chapter 15.40 — SIGN REGULATIONS
- Chapter 15.48 — SAFETY ASSESSMENT PLACARDS
▸Title 16 — SUBDIVISIONS
Overview- Chapter 16.02 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Chapter 16.04 — REVIEW AUTHORITY
- Chapter 16.08 — TYPES OF MAPS REQUIRED
- Chapter 16.10 — TENTATIVE MAPS
- Chapter 16.12 — VESTING TENTATIVE MAPS
- Chapter 16.14 — PARCEL AND FINAL MAPS
- Chapter 16.15 — URBAN LOT SPLITS
- Chapter 16.16 — CERTIFICATES, ADJUSTMENTS AND MERGERS
- Chapter 16.17 — AIRSPACE AND COMMON INTEREST SUBDIVISIONS, FLEXIBLE LOT
- Chapter 16.18 — GENERAL SUBDIVISION DESIGN STANDARDS
- Chapter 16.20 — PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES
- Chapter 16.22 — DEDICATIONS
- Chapter 16.23 — REQUESTS FOR EXCEPTIONS, APPEALS, AND APPLICATION
- Chapter 16.24 — VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
- Chapter 16.26 — DEFINITIONS
▸Title 17 — ZONING REGULATIONS
Overview- Chapter 17.02 — PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY OF THE ZONING REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.04 — INTERPRETATION OF THE ZONING REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.06 — ZONES ESTABLISHED AND ZONING MAP
- Chapter 17.10 — USE REGULATIONS
- 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 17.40 — MANUFACTURING (M) ZONE
- Chapter 17.42 — BUSINESS PARK (BP) ZONE
- 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 17.68 — PURPOSE
- Chapter 17.69 — OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR QUALIFYING RESIDENTIAL
- Chapter 17.70 — SITE DEVELOPMENT AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
- Chapter 17.72 — PARKING 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 17.86 — REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC LAND USES AND ACTIVITIES
- Chapter 17.92 — NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES
- Chapter 17.94 — NONCONFORMING USES
- Chapter 17.96 — NONCONFORMING LOTS
- Chapter 17.102 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- 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 17.141 — DOWNTOWN FLEXIBLE DENSITY PROGRAM
- Chapter 17.142 — DOWNTOWN HOUSING CONVERSION REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.144 — RESIDENTIAL GROWTH MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.154 — DEFINITIONS, PURPOSE, AND ORGANIZATION
- Chapter 17.156 — LAND USE DEFINITIONS (TABLE 2-1: USES ALLOWED BY ZONE)
- Chapter 17.158 — GENERAL DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 17.160 — PREVIOUS LAND USE DEFINITIONS
- § 17.17