California state law requires each city and county to adopt a general plan "for the physical development of the county or city, and any land outside its boundaries which bears relation to its planning."

The general plan is a local agency's constitution for future development.  The San Luis Obispo County General Plan expresses the county's development goals and embodies public policy relative to the distribution of future land uses.  It identifies county's land use, circulation, environmental, economic, and social goals and policies as they relate to land use and development. It provides a basis for local government decision making and informs citizens, developers, and decision-makers of the ground rules that guide development within the county

State law requires that every general plan must contain the following components or "elements": Land Use, Conservation, Noise, Circulation, Open Space, Safety and Housing. In addition, state law allows for the adoption of additional or optional elements of a general plan. These elements may address any other subjects that, in the judgement of the legislative body, relate to the physical development of the county. The County of San Luis Obispo has adopted seven optional elements: Recreation, Historic and Esthetic, Energy, Off-shore Energy, Economic and Agriculture.

Land Use Ordinances (Titles 22 and 23)

Other Ordinances

Area Plans

Design Plans

Elements

Specific Plans

Plans in Process and Draft Plans

Other Documents