About Us

Regulating the construction or renovation of buildings is an important aspect of consumer protection that benefits both the residents and visitors of our city.  Before a building is constructed or altered, the property owner is responsible for obtaining a building permit from the Building & Safety Division.  During this process, plans are reviewed to ensure the design will satisfy all city and state construction codes. Once plans have been checked and any necessary corrections have been approved, the permit is issued and construction can begin. Our staff of certified inspectors will conduct inspections of the project during various stages of construction to make sure building code requirements are being adhered to and that the work is consistent with the plans approved by the City.

The Building & Safety Division of the Community Development Department is also responsible for enforcing various land use, property development, building and sign regulations.  Our ordinance enforcement program is handled on a complaint-driven basis and we respond to over 400 cases per year. Click on the Code Enforcement link here to find out more.

The City now has a Seismic Coordinator to assist in the implementation of the City of San Luis Obispo's Unreinforced Masonry Hazard Mitigation Program.  Click the link above to find out more.  You may also be interested in checking out the City's interactive URM web map and Seismic Plan Details.

Building & Safety Division Links                

   ·Organization Chart
   ·Construction Regulations
   ·User's Guide to the Permit Process or Permit Process Flowchart
   ·Forms
   ·Information Bulletins
   ·Reference Handouts
   ·Fee Schedule and Impact Fees

Permit History

To research permit history, access The SLO-GIS site and scroll down the page to City of San Luis Obispo Parcel Viewer.  You can search by address or parcel number.

Earthquake Preparedness

Earthquakes are dangerous, inevitable, and a fact of life in California.  Taking steps to become prepared in a disaster will save lives and protect property.  Please refer to the information provided in the links below:

Homeowner's Guide to Earthquake Safety & Commercial Property Owner's Guide to Earthquake Safety provided by California Seismic Safety Commission.

SEAOSC, Structural Engineering Association of Southern California.

FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency

USGS, United States Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program.

Other helpful links:

   
Contractors State License Board.  The CSLB protects consumers by regulating the construction industry through policies that promote the health, safety and general welfare of the public in matters relating to construction.

CALBO interactive Build it Right. The "Build it Right" program was created by the California Building Officials to increase public awareness of the value in securing building permits.  Building permits ensure a certified inspector inspects a construction project or installation.  Inspections make certain work is done safely and meets the requirements of the California State Building Codes.

The International Code Council, ICC, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools.  Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by the International Code Council.

Recall information provided by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) dates back to October 2005.  This list includes a brief description of each recall and the related U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) web link to directly access recall information.