San Luis Obispo, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

City permit process applies to projects in the City of San Luis Obispo.

Department

City of San Luis Obispo, Community Development - Building & Safety Division

Address

919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218

Phone

(805) 781-7180

Website

https://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/community-development/building-safety/permit-forms-and-applications

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Gather the required permit packet, checklist, project information, owner information, valuation, and plans.
2. Use the Building & Safety portal or submit through the city counter using the published permit links.
3. Complete the permit application for the correct permit type, such as building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, grading, or demolition.
4. Include the required declaration forms, such as licensed contractor or owner-builder declaration, workers' compensation or lending declarations, and all required project details.
5. Make sure checklist items are complete before submission because incomplete applications are returned or not accepted.
6. After submission, pay permit and plan review fees through the city system and proceed to issuance after department review.

Source: City of San Luis Obispo, Community Development - Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

The city's construction permit application covers building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, grading, and demolition permit types submitted through Building & Safety.

Required Documents

• Property owner or agent contact details
• Permit type details
• Plan and project scope information
• Contractor or owner-builder declarations
• Workers' compensation and lending declarations
• Required signatures on permit forms

Building code

2022 California Building Code, 2022 California Residential Code, and 2022 California Green Building Standards Code

Owner-builder

The permit form requires declaration of owner-builder or contractor status. Owner-builder projects require proper declaration and may carry sale-use restrictions, including a one-year personal occupancy rule unless fully constructed by licensed contractors.

Contractor requirements

A California licensed contractor declaration is required unless the applicant qualifies for an owner-builder exemption under BCEL.

Fees

Plan check fee

See the fee schedule formula and category-specific per-square-foot charges in the FY 2025-26 fee schedule.

Permit fee formula

Building fixed fees include 15% of the first $100,000 plus 1.0% thereafter for plan-check components, and many categories also use per-square-foot rates.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fees are listed in the city schedule as fixed and incremental amounts for building work, and fire and life-safety sections also list reinspection fees.

Payment note

City user and impact fees were adjusted by CPI and CCCI, and recent fee study updates and July 2025 fee increases are documented by the Finance fee page.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective FY 2025-26).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the City of San Luis Obispo, Community Development - Building & Safety Division to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• infoslo Permit Portal (online)
• (805) 781-7180 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

FIRE and DEMO inspections are scheduled by phone at least 24 hours in advance.

Typical inspection sequence: Inspections are part of permit execution, and the permit holder is responsible for site access and inspection readiness. Permit forms include owner authorization for inspection access.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2022 California Building Code, 2022 California Residential Code, and 2022 California Green Building Standards Code
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Permit forms and documents
• City fee policy and current schedule listing
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in San Luis Obispo County