What is the General Plan?

The General Plan is the principal tool the City uses when evaluating municipal service improvements and land use proposals.

Every service the City provides to its citizens, from police and fire protection to park maintenance, can trace its roots back to goals and policies found in the General Plan.

All land use decisions are governed by the General Plan and must be consistent with the General Plan's direction.

General Plan goals, policies, and implementation measures are based on an assessment of current and future needs and available resources. The City recently updated its Land Use, Circulation and Housing Elements. For more information regarding the Land Use and Circulation Elements (LUCE) update, please visit SLO 2035.

Land Use Map 2015

Land Use Element Diagram

General Plan Table of Contents:

Environmental Impact Report:

Fiscal Impact Analysis: This report evaluates the fiscal impact of the proposed land uses in the City of San Luis Obispo Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) Update. The report calculates the projected City revenues and costs that would be generated by new development included in the LUCE, as well as new infrastructure and program elements in the Circulation Element

General Plan Annual Reports by Year:

    How is progress to implement the General Plan tracked?

    Each year, the City publishes an Annual Report on the status of its General Plan and the actions taken to implement it during the past year. The Annual Report is provided to help citizens and City officials gauge progress towards achieving the City’s stated goals and objectives. A copy of the 2021 General Plan Annual Report can be viewed here.

    General Plan Organizational Chart

    General plan work flow

    For questions or help accessing the files, contact the Community Development Department at (805) 781-7170 or email Long Range Planning.