Santa Margarita
A small unincorporated town just over the Cuesta Grade, about 10 miles north of San Luis Obispo. It has no city government: the County of San Luis Obispo handles planning, guided by the Santa Margarita Community Plan. New subdivisions on and around the Santa Margarita Ranch are adding homes.
Home market
Sales for the three months ending June 2026; homes for sale as of October 8, 2026. Citywide figures from Redfin, all home types.
Santa Margarita has only a handful of sales a year, so the median price can swing sharply and should be read as a rough guide. The for-sale count includes land.
Monthly figures for a small city swing with just a few sales, so compare several months before drawing conclusions. Countywide trends are on the market data page; local loan limits and a payment calculator are on Loans & rates.
What's being built: 2 projects
Projects confirmed in official records (the County, LAFCO or the State's CEQA database, CEQAnet) or, where the official report isn't online, local news coverage of the public vote. Each links to its source.
| Project | What it is | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Margarita Ranch Agricultural Residential Cluster (Tract 2586) | A 111-lot residential cluster subdivision on the Santa Margarita Ranch, one single-family home per lot. In January 2025 LAFCO approved annexing the tract to County Service Area 23 for water service. | Approved; LAFCO annexation Jan. 16, 2025 | CEQAnet 2004111112 County CSA 23 |
| 22937 I Street tract map | Subdivision of 8.01 acres into 6 residential lots. | Approved; Notice of Determination Apr. 15, 2026 | CEQAnet 2026020247 |
Projects in Santa Margarita go through the County. Search permits and applications in PermitSLO or see the Community Plan for zoning and growth rules. See: Santa Margarita Community Plan (County).
Public schools
Santa Margarita is part of Atascadero Unified.
Santa Margarita is served by Atascadero Unified School District. Schools in or serving Santa Margarita:
- Santa Margarita Elementary School
- Older students attend Atascadero Junior High and Atascadero High School
School assignment depends on your exact address; confirm boundaries with the district. School list from the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education and the district.
Walkability
Walk Score counts about 5 restaurants, bars and coffee shops in Santa Margarita, all on or near El Camino Real downtown. The town grid is easy to walk; most errands mean a drive to Atascadero or San Luis Obispo. (Walk Score)
Other towns
Arroyo Grande
$899,549 median · 106 for sale
Open →Atascadero
$782,074 median · 98 for sale
Open →Grover Beach
$765,493 median · 49 for sale
Open →Morro Bay
$941,877 median · 53 for sale
Open →Paso Robles
$809,464 median · 322 for sale
Open →Pismo Beach
$1,380,000 median · 50 for sale
Open →San Luis Obispo
Six City areas with every City-tracked project
Open →Sources
- County of San Luis Obispo (unincorporated)
- Santa Margarita Community Plan (County)
- Redfin: Santa Margarita housing market (retrieved October 8, 2026)
- CEQAnet 2004111112: Santa Margarita Ranch Agricultural Residential Cluster (Tract 2586)
- CEQAnet 2026020247: 22937 I Street tract map
- Atascadero Unified School District
- Walk Score: Santa Margarita
Project details and stages change; contact the County of San Luis Obispo Planning & Building for the latest on a specific project. Market data are estimates from Redfin.