San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Ch. 9.22 Safety Enhancement Zones

The city council may by ordinance, or by resolution upon a finding that there is a need to take immediate action to protect the public health, safety and welfare, designate a specific geographical area as a “safety enhancement zone” and specify the date and/or time that the designation is effective upon a finding that the geographical area is subject to unique conditions and circumstances during a specific period of time that create the potential for a significant threat to public health and safety and that the threat would be reduced by enhanced penalties for violations of provisions of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code. The ordinance or resolution establishing a safety enhancement zone shall contain the following provisions:

A. A description of the geographical area comprising the safety enhancement zone; and

B. The date and time, or other specific description of the time period during which the safety enhancement zone designation is applicable to the geographical area. (Ord. 1469 § 1, 2004)

A. Any violation of designated sections of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code that is committed within an area that has been designated by the city council as a safety enhancement zone, and during the time that designation is effective, shall be subject to a fine that is twice the amount of the fine specified for the designated municipal code sections, up to a maximum of one thousand dollars.

B. Safety Enhancement Zone Violations. Fines for violations committed in the safety enhancement zone shall apply to the following provisions: Chapter 9.04 (Possession of Open Containers or Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Public Places), Chapter 9.05 (hosting a gathering where underage persons consume alcohol), Chapter 9.12 (Noise Control), Chapter 9.13 (Unruly Gatherings), Chapter 9.16 (dangerous and deadly weapons), and Chapter 9.20 (urination in public). Violations of Chapter 2.24 (Emergency Services), or of any duly enacted rule or regulation pursuant to Chapter 2.24, or of any local (city or county of San Luis Obispo), state of California, or United States emergency or public health emergency measure, order or directive issued pursuant to any declared local, state, or federal emergency applicable within the city shall be subject to enforcement throughout the geographic limits of the city under this section immediately upon declaration of the emergency, and for the duration of the declared emergency, and shall be subject to an immediate one thousand dollar penalty as an immediate threat to public health or safety. A separate offense shall be deemed to have been committed whenever a person repeats the act that constitutes the violation. (Ord. 1692 § 4, 2021; Ord. 1548 § 2, 2010)

A violation under this chapter may be prosecuted either criminally or administratively pursuant to Chapter 1.24. (Ord. 1469 § 1, 2004)

A. The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone during the Mardi Gras period, effective from 12:01 a.m. on the Thursday preceding “Fat Tuesday” until 7:00 a.m. on the Wednesday following “Fat Tuesday.”

B. The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone from 12:01 a.m. on March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) until 7:00 a.m. on March 18th of each year with the following modifications and additions. If St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, the safety enhancement zone period will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. on the Friday of or prior to St. Patrick’s Day to 7:00 a.m. the following Monday. The safety enhancement zone period will also be in effect during the two weekends immediately prior to St. Patrick’s Day from 12:01 a.m. Friday until 7:00 a.m. Monday for each weekend unless St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday, in which case the safety enhancement zone period for the weekend immediately prior to St. Patrick’s Day will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. on the Friday prior to St. Patrick’s Day until 7:00 a.m. on March 18th.

C. The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone related to Halloween (October 31st) during the following time periods. If Halloween falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, the safety enhancement zone period will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. on the previous Thursday until 7:00 a.m. on November 1st. If Halloween falls on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the safety enhancement zone period will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. on the Thursday falling on or preceding October 31st until 7:00 a.m. on the Monday following October 31st and will also be in effect during the weekend immediately prior to Halloween from 12:01 a.m. Friday to 7:00 a.m. Monday.

D. The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone from 12:01 a.m. on the first day of Cal Poly University’s housing move-in day until 7:00 a.m. of the Monday following the first weekend of the fall academic school year. (Ord. 1732 §§ 2, 3, 2024; Ord. 1590 § 2, 2013)