Cal Poly students return to campus this week

San Luis Obispo Police offer resources

– Cal Poly students are moving in this week as the university and city prepare for the fall quarter.

Enrollment for fall is estimated at 22,900 students, with over 8,600 living on campus. Final enrollment figures will be available in October.

“It’s always exciting to welcome new and returning Cal Poly students to our community, as they contribute greatly to the vibrancy of San Luis Obispo,” City Manager Whitney McDonald said.

Key dates for Cal Poly include:

• Sept. 17-22: On-campus move-in
• Sept. 18: New student welcome event at Spanos Stadium with fireworks
• Sept. 18-24: Week of Welcome for new students
• Sept. 23: First day of classes

A recent report by REACH assessed Cal Poly’s economic impact on California’s Central Coast. The report estimates the university’s annual economic contribution at $2.6 billion across San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties, or about $41,380 per student.

The city advises residents and visitors to expect increased traffic during move-in. Pacheco Way remains open for outbound traffic. Road closure information is available at slocity.org/RoadClosures.

The city encourages sustainable transportation options like walking, biking, busing, or carpooling.

Students renting off-campus housing are urged to learn about renters’ rights. The city’s Safe Housing Program, managed by Code Enforcement, ensures rental properties meet minimum habitability standards. Information is available at slocity.org/SafeHousing.

For utility services, residents can start or stop service online at slocity.org/UB, by calling (805) 781-7133 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or in person at City Hall Finance Department Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

San Luis Garbage provides weekly trash, recycling, and organics collection. Residents can request a free food waste kitchen pail and learn about services by contacting San Luis Garbage. More information on waste management is available at the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling website.

The city will become a Safety Enhancement Zone from Sept. 17 at 12 a.m. through Sept. 30 at 7 a.m. Fines for noise, unruly gatherings, public urination, and open container violations will be doubled during this period. The first violations for noise, public urination, and open container will be $700, while the first violations for unruly gatherings will be $1,000. Details are available at respectslo.com.

Party registration is available through the San Luis Obispo Police Department for off-campus events. Registration is free and provides a warning call before officers respond to noise complaints. Eligible events must be registered at least one week in advance at respectslo.com.

The city offers recreational events and maintains over 4,000 acres of open space with over 65 miles of trails. A community activities calendar is available online. Residents can access the City’s Open Space Trail Map and learn about Open Space Rules and Regulations online.

For noise complaints, contact:

• On-campus: Cal Poly Police Department at (805) 756-2281
• Off-campus: San Luis Obispo Police Department at (805) 781-7312