The community is invited to provide input on the City of San Luis Obispo’s Draft Inclusionary Housing Ordinance update, a tool to increase the supply of affordable housing in SLO!

The community is invited to provide input on the City of San Luis Obispo’s Draft Inclusionary Housing Ordinance update.

The City of San Luis Obispo first adopted its Inclusionary Housing Ordinance in 1999. Inclusionary housing policies ensure that all new development in the City contributes to addressing the affordable housing crisis. Several changes to the City’s existing ordinance are being proposed, chief among them being an increase in the number of affordable units needed to meet ordinance requirements.

For example, the current ordinance requires developers set aside 3% of the units for low-income households, or 5% of the units for moderate income households. The proposed update would require that a total of 10% of the units are set aside – 5% for low-income households and 5% for moderation income households. Affordable housing requirements for rental projects are also increasing to address the affordability crisis.

Updating San Luis Obispo’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance is a significant effort tied to the City’s Housing and Homelessness Major City Goal. Specifically, this ordinance change is expected to increase production of affordable housing in all new residential development.  

The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance was first adopted in 1999. However, recent studies have shown that the demand for affordable housing is not being met by the housing market in San Luis Obispo. The City has been working to change that. In a public study session in March, the City Council provided staff with direction to update the City’s ordinance.

We welcome your input below!   Community members may also email [email protected] or provide comments at upcoming public meetings, listed below;

• Tentative Planning Commission Hearing – June 8, 2022
• Tentative Council Hearing – July 19, 2022

For questions, please contact the City’s Housing Coordinator Kyle Bell at [email protected] or 805.781.7524.