An unincorporated village governed by county plans, not a city hall
Santa Margarita has no municipal government. Land use is controlled by the County of San Luis Obispo through the Land Use Ordinance, the Salinas River Area Plan and its Santa Margarita Community Plan, and the Santa Margarita Design Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors under Resolution 01-413. County code requires Minor Use Permit and Conditional Use Permit applications in the community to conform to the Design Plan, which carries specific standards down to fence materials visible from the street and height limits for multi-family buildings, and the Design Plan prevails where it conflicts with the Area Plan.
For buyers and sellers, the practical takeaway is that remodel, addition, and development questions route to County Planning and Building rather than a city counter, and the community plan's combining designations, including Salinas River and creek flood-hazard areas, are worth checking parcel by parcel. Verify current standards with the county.
