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Off-Campus Housing Near Cal Poly
About Off-Campus Housing Near California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo gathers about 22,000 Mustangs in a Central Coast town wedged between the ocean and the hills, and the place runs on its Learn by Doing ethos. SLO is small and outdoorsy: students hike Bishop Peak, Madonna Mountain, and the Cal Poly P, and the local Tri-Tip Challenge rewards tackling all three. Downtown is the heart of town, where the Thursday night farmers market shuts down Higuera Street and turns it into a street fair. Each spring, Open House brings campus to life with ag shows and barbecue, a tradition stretching back over a century. Poly Canyon, with its student-built structures, sits on the edge of campus for wandering. Beaches are 15 minutes west, the hills are everywhere, and most students bike or walk once they live close in.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
Cal Poly requires most freshmen to live in university housing for their first year, in the residence halls or suite-style buildings. The off-campus hunt mainly starts for second-years and up. The first year is built around on-campus living.
Off-Campus Eligibility
When students do move off, they head to the neighborhoods ringing campus and toward downtown, where a large share of residents are students. The rental process in SLO is competitive because the town is small and demand is high relative to supply. Expect landlords to run credit and income checks, and plan on a guarantor or cosigner if your credit is thin.
Lease Timing
Watch the local quirks, since San Luis Obispo enforces rules on how many unrelated people can share a home, so confirm the legal occupancy before you crowd a house with roommates. Leases often run a full 12 months even though the school year is shorter, and parking can be tight. Read carefully and confirm what is included before you sign.