City of San Luis Obispo, CA

Cal Poly students are moving in this week and Cal Poly and the City of SLO are working together to help returning and new students become quickly integrated into the SLO community.

More than 22,000 were accepted to Cal Poly this fall, including more than 7,000 new students who will be enrolled this fall, according to a report released in the spring.

“We’re excited to welcome the added vibrancy, energy, and fresh perspectives to our community this fall,” said City Manager Whitney McDonald. “The university's students, faculty and staff all contribute greatly to the dynamic character of our city, and Cal Poly plays an important role in our local economy. As students settle in both on and off campus, the City remains committed to working closely with university leaders, year-round residents, the Cal Poly community, and local businesses to ensure a positive start to the academic year for everyone.”

Click the button below for the corresponding information you need. 

For All SLO Community Members: Key Dates and Info

With Cal Poly getting back in session, more than 7,000 new students will be enrolled this fall. That means San Luis Obispo will be welcoming new community members.

Cal Poly has several key dates starting this week:

Sept. 11-18
Students living on campus moving in; To support a smooth and safe move-in experience, community members can expect traffic, parking, and transit changes on campus. Full details, including available faculty/staff parking, are posted on the Cal Poly Transportation & Parking Events Page.

Sept. 12 - 17
Week of Welcome for new students, including:

• Friday, Sept 12, 8-9:15 p.m.: Big Fall Welcome, including two fireworks shows
• Saturday, Sept 13 and Sunday, Sept 14, 8-11 p.m.: WOW Festival, including two DJs playing music until 10 p.m.

Sept. 18
First day of classes

Sept. 20
Concert in Spanos Stadium, 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Stay informed and report any issues:  

• ASK SLO: Have a question? Need to report an issue? Submit service requests anytime at www.slocity.org/ASK
• Get City of San Luis Obispo Traffic and Construction Updates: www.slocity.org/trafficupdates
• Sign up for alerts: www.slocity.org/Subscribe
• On-Campus Noise Complaints: If you experience noise issues that seem to exceed permitted levels or hours, you can contact the Cal Poly Police Department’s (CPPD) non-emergency line anytime:
  • 📞 805-756-2281
  • 📧 police@calpoly.edu
• Off-Campus Noise Complaints: Anyone concerned that noise-generating events can contact the following non-emergency lines: SLO Police Department non-emergency line 805-781-7312 

For Cal Poly Students: Get to Know SLO A - Z 

City officials have put together the following information in alphabetical order to help new members of the Cal Poly community become better acquainted with San Luis Obispo:  

Ask SLO: Download the App to Report Issues
Need to report a pothole on your street? Is a street light out? Notice an issue with a sidewalk? Report an issue or request City services via Ask SLO, the City of San Luis Obispo centralized resident engagement platform that is available online and as an app. Ask SLO is designed to provide San Luis Obispo residents, businesses and visitors with a Virtual City Hall, giving you the opportunity to access City Hall, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, from the comfort of your own home. The app is designed to quickly connect community members with City services and information.

Visit www.slocity.org/ASK to download the app or to report an issue or request City services.

Be a Good Neighbor: Respect SLO
The City’s Police Department mailed postcards to all north-side addresses in San Luis Obispo reminding residents of our community’s good-neighbor rules and how to report concerns. Police officers and department staff will also present information at on-campus and neighborhood meetings to ensure everyone is aware of the upcoming dates and plans in place to make things go smoothly as new community members arrive.

• Keep Noise Down or Pay Fines. Creating a lot of noise that can be heard outside of your residence can result in fines and headaches. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., if a disturbance can be heard 50 feet from the source of the noise, a warning or citation can be issued. From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., if a disturbance can be heard from the property line, a warning or citation can be issued. If multiple violations occur at a property, the property owner is also cited and fined.T he fines for noise violations are: $350 for the first citation, $700 for the second citation, and $1,000 for the third and subsequent citations.
  
  
• Fines Double During Safety Enhancement Zone Periods: To kick off a respectful start to a new academic year, the City of San Luis Obispo will become a Safety Enhancement Zone from Thursday, Sept. 11 at 12:00 a.m. through Monday, Sept. 22 at 7 a.m. Fines for noise, unruly gathering, public urination and open container are doubled. A first violation for noise, public urination and open container will be $700, a first violation for unruly gathering will be $1000. The SLO City Council adopted Safety Enhancement Zone ordinance in 2010 to maintain law and order during times of the year known for rowdy activities that pose a risk to public health, safety and comfort. In addition to Cal Poly’s Start of School, the ordinance covers Halloween, and St. Patrick’s Day. More details can be found at respectslo.com.

• Party Registration, offered by the San Luis Obispo Police Department, provides anyone living off-campus with the opportunity to receive a warning call before officers arrive if a noise complaint is received during your event. Registration is FREE and events taking place on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday prior to a legal holiday are eligible. Party registration is 100% voluntary and not required. Community members can register law-abiding parties online at least one week in advance to receive one courtesy call in the event of a noise complaint.

Health and Safety: Get to Know First Responders 
The SLO Fire Department is the first responder to calls on and off campus. We have four stations strategically placed in SLO that are staffed 24/7. Station 2 is just .6 miles away from Cal Poly. Our goal is to reach every call within four minutes. Our main calls with Cal Poly students are alcohol and overuse, DUI vehicle crashes, bicycle accidents, train vs. pedestrian, and major medical incidents. A lot of our services can be avoided if common sense is used. Please make smart decisions: wear a bike helmet, pay attention while driving or on a bike and walking (especially while crossing the train tracks), hike with a buddy and bring plenty of water, and get home safely. Our services are free. However, medical transport, helicopter rescue, or DUIs are not.

The SLO Fire Department also has the Mobile Crisis Unit which is available to everyone in San Luis Obispo, including Cal Poly students, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. This is a free service that provides crisis support services to individuals suffering from non-emergency behavioral/mental health challenges.

• Call 9-1-1 immediately for fire or medical emergencies. Non-emergency dispatch is 805-781-7312.
• If you have questions or would like more information, please visit our website at slocity.org/fire.

Housing: Know Your Rights
Do you know your rights as a renter? Cal Poly students renting housing off campus are encouraged to educate themselves on renter’s rights. Renters make up over 60% of San Luis Obispo's population. For this reason, the City continues to evolve renter programs and offer resources for renters and landlords. The City's Safe Housing Program, managed by the Code Enforcement team, helps ensure that rental properties in SLO meet the minimum habitability standards. Note: The City Council will hold a study session to discuss renter protections in San Luis Obispo as part of a special meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, October 28 at 5:30 p.m.

 Visit slocity.org/SafeHousing for details.

Recreation Events & Nature Preservation
Looking for something fun to do? The City offers recreational events for every student’s interests. Visit our community activities calendar online to find all of our recreation events planned to date. The City also has a large variety of park amenities within our accessible park system and offers over 4,000 acres of designated open space with over 65 miles of trails, from moderate to rugged hiking trails and challenging mountain biking to scenic pathways just minutes from downtown. Get the City's Open Space Trail Map. To protect these natural areas and ensure the safety and a positive experience, the City has established rules and regulations for open spaces.

Learn more about the City's Open Space Rules and Regulations online.

Traffic Information: Know What Streets to Avoid
The City advises community members – including residents and visitors – to expect more traffic during this time, as students and parents arrive in town. To help manage traffic, the City is working with Cal Poly to plan for some changes that will accommodate the increased traffic near Cal Poly, including only opening Grand Avenue to inbound traffic for students moving in and closing Pacheco Road (intersection at the Vista Grande Dining Complex) to Village Drive. Pacheco Way is still open for outbound traffic. Get the full list of road closures in SLO each week by visiting slocity.org/RoadClosures.

Transportation: Get Around Sustainably
Transportation is one of the biggest opportunities we have to reduce climate pollution, and here in San Luis Obispo, the City is taking proactive steps to create a cleaner, healthier future. Whether you choose to roll or stroll, our focus is on making sustainable transportation options accessible, affordable, and equitable for all. Instead of driving alone, discover these easy and eco-friendly ways to get around SLO:

• Walk or Bike: San Luis Obispo is more walkable and bike-friendly than ever, with safer intersections, over 230 miles of sidewalks, 6 miles of multi-use paths, and a growing bike network that includes 60 miles of bike paths, protected lanes, and 150+ bike parking spaces.  Whether you’re walking or biking to school, work, the market, or just for fun, getting around SLO is safe, healthy, and enjoyable. Learn more at Roll & Stroll, the City’s hub for biking and walking.
• Bus: Cal Poly students, faculty, and staff can ride a SLO Transit bus for free by swiping their Cal Poly ID. SLO Transit expands its service hours to accommodate increased bus ridership during the Cal Poly academic school year. For real-time information for SLO Transit buses with notifications and schedules, download the SLO Transit app.
• Carpool: Parking is easy and convenient in SLO, but the City encourages community members to consider carpooling rather than driving alone – you’ll save money and reduce pollution. Visiting downtown? Save money and time by parking in one of the three City-operated public parking garages at $2 per hour, $8 max per day or $45 for a monthly garage permit.

Volunteer: Get Involved & Make a Difference in SLO 
Live in, study in and engage with SLO! The City invites Cal Poly community members to get involved through our Volunteer Program, which offers hands-on opportunities to contribute to City projects, programs, and goals while gaining valuable skills. We are seeking consistent volunteer support at our public parking garages. Or perhaps you want to adopt a park or pathway and help keep it clean and tidy? We're looking for volunteers who want to take care of their own little piece of SLO. See the Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Pathway volunteer opportunities.

For more details and to stay updated on service opportunities, visit our volunteer portal, Engage SLO. 

Waste & Recycling: Correctly Dispose of Solid Waste and Recycling 
San Luis Obispo residents and Cal Poly students are committed reducing solid waste by putting food scraps in their green organics cart, where it is taken to a local anaerobic digestor to be converted into organic compost and energy. San Luis Garbage provides weekly trash, recycling, and organics collection to City residents and will provide a free food waste kitchen pail upon request. Please call San Luis Garbage to request your food waste kitchen pail, schedule collection for large items like furniture and appliances, and learn more about your garbage services. 

 For more information on what materials go in what cart and upcoming community events, visit the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling website.

Water: Start Utilities Services 
The City of SLO’s Utilities Department provides water and sewer services for properties within the city limits of San Luis Obispo.

Anyone moving into off-campus housing should make sure they have utilities services set up. 

Community members can start or stop a service anytime, day or night online via Utilities Billing website at slocity.org/UB; by calling (805) 781-7133, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; or by visiting in-person at the Utilities Department, 879 Morro Street,, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To receive updates from the City, please register for City News e-notifications on the City’s website at www.slocity.org/subscribe or follow the City of San Luis Obispo on social media.