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Crizer Construction, Inc.

Los Osos

Building in Los Osos again.

The moratorium held new houses in Los Osos from 1988 to October 29, 2024. Lots that waited a generation can be built on now.

We have built in Los Osos since 1983, from an office on 1191 4th Street. We know the County set and the lots.

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What changed.

The freeze protected the Los Osos groundwater basin, the town's only water source, until the sewer, a basin plan, and a habitat plan were in place.

With the sewer running and the Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan approved, the County Board of Supervisors lifted the moratorium on October 29, 2024.

Growth is still metered. Each December the County sets how many new houses the basin can carry the next year.

2026: 25 new homes.

On December 16, 2025 the County set the 2026 growth rate at 0.4 percent: 25 new units for all of Los Osos. 19 are inside the sewer service area, 12 single-family and 7 multi-family.

The Waitlist-to-Build goes first, in order, in batches. What the waitlist does not claim opens to the rest of the sewer service area later in the year.

Remodels, additions, garages, and guesthouses on lots with a house do not need an allocation. Those permits are open now.

Vacant lot to finished house.

Five steps, in order. We carry each one, from the lot check to final inspection. See how the build itself runs on our process.

  1. 01

    Check the lot

    Zoning, setbacks, slope, and whether the lot sits inside the sewer service area. Most of the answer is in the County record before anyone draws a line.

  2. 02

    Secure a growth allocation

    Every new house in Los Osos needs one of the year's allocations. The County offers them to the Waitlist-to-Build first, in order, then opens what is left to the rest of the sewer service area.

  3. 03

    Buy habitat credits

    The Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan covers the endangered species on the lots. A new house buys mitigation credits based on the ground it disturbs.

  4. 04

    Design and permit

    Plans, a coastal development permit where the lot calls for one, and a County building permit. We draw and submit the set.

  5. 05

    Connect and build

    Sewer connection, utilities, and construction under one name through final inspection.

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Questions owners ask.

Is the Los Osos building moratorium over?
Yes. The County Board of Supervisors lifted it on October 29, 2024, after 36 years. Building is open again, but new houses are metered by a yearly growth rate tied to the groundwater basin.
How many new homes can be built in Los Osos each year?
The County sets the number each December from basin data. For 2026 it is 0.4 percent, 25 new units for the whole community, with 19 inside the sewer service area: 12 single-family and 7 multi-family.
I am on the Waitlist-to-Build. What happens now?
The County offers allocations to the waitlist in batches, in waitlist order, and writes to owners when their batch opens. Allocations the waitlist does not use open to the rest of the sewer service area later in the year. Bring your County letter to a consultation and we will plan around your date.
I own a vacant lot but I am not on the waitlist. Can I build?
Possibly. Allocations the waitlist does not claim open to any lot in the sewer service area. A lot check tells you what the lot needs first, so you are ready when allocations open.
Do remodels and additions need an allocation?
No. The County accepts permits for remodels, additions, garages, and guesthouses on lots that already have a house. The growth allocation applies to new dwelling units.
What does it cost to build on a Los Osos lot?
It depends on the lot and the house. Beyond construction, a new house carries habitat mitigation credits, permit fees, and a sewer connection. We price each project on a Cost Plus basis after a planning phase, so the number is real before you commit.

Sources

Checked October 2, 2026. The County updates these rules each year. Its pages are the final word.