The Department of Planning and Building Permit Center is open by appointment only. A walk-in option is available for customers with questions on Mondays and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 11:45 AM. Walk-ins are limited to 15 minutes each in order to accommodate as many people as possible. If you’d like to submit an application in person, please schedule an appointment by calling (805) 781-5600.
To submit electronic Building Permit or Land Use Permit Applications, please visit the Permitting page.
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A Voluntary Merger is a process that results in the combination of two or more contiguous parcels which are held in common ownership into a single parcel.
Confirm that both parcels to be merged are contiguous (i.e. share a common property line), that each parcel is under the same ownership, and that each parcel has identical vesting (i.e. how the owners hold their interest in the parcel(s)).
Then, request a Voluntary Merger Number by:
Complete the Voluntary Merger Application form.
Complete the General Land Use Permit Application form
Planning staff will email the applicant an invoice, which the applicant can pay online here.
Planning Staff will review the required documents, prepare the draft Notice of Voluntary Merger, and mail it to the applicant along with an invoice for recording fees.
Sign and notarize the draft Notice of Voluntary Merger, and mail it back to the Department of Planning & Building:
976 Osos Street
Room 300
San Luis Obispo, CA
93408
Pay the invoice for the recording fees online here.
Staff will sign and notarize the draft Notice of Voluntary Merger, and record it.
Staff will mail the official copy of the recorded Notice of Voluntary Merger to the applicant.
This service is available to anyone wishing to merge two contiguous parcels into a single parcel.
Please refer to the Department of Planning & Building Fee Schedule for application fees.
This service is available throughout the year during regular business hours except during scheduled holidays.
No, a voluntary merger does not affect easements, streets, dedications, offers of dedication, or any other recorded interests.
Voluntary mergers can typically be processed within 90 days of the application being deemed complete.
Often, voluntary mergers are processed in order to accommodate building setbacks, such as when buildings are constructed over lot lines. They are also processed to simply create larger parcels.