What Climate Zone is San Luis Obispo, California?

San Luis Obispo is in IECC Climate Zone 3C (Warm - Marine). Get accurate Manual J load calculations with official design temperatures for San Luis Obispo.

Climate Zone
3C
Winter Design
41°F
Summer Design
81°F
ZIP Codes
35

San Luis Obispo, California falls within IECC Climate Zone 3C (Warm - Marine), a mixed-climate region with marine moisture conditions. HVAC contractors working in San Luis Obispo must use the official ASHRAE design temperatures of 41°F (99% winter) and 81°F (1% summer) when performing Manual J load calculations. These values represent the outdoor conditions your heating and cooling system must handle 99% and 1% of the year, respectively — ensuring proper equipment sizing without costly over- or under-sizing.

Zone 3C experiences both significant heating and cooling loads. San Luis Obispo homes need balanced insulation — R-20 walls, R-30 ceilings — plus windows with U-factor 0.32 and SHGC 0.4 per the IECC 2021 energy code.

San Luis Obispo Insulation Requirements (IECC 2021)

Minimum insulation R-values and window performance requirements for Climate Zone 3C in San Luis Obispo, California.

Building ComponentMinimum RequirementUnit
Ceiling / Attic InsulationR-30R-value
Wall InsulationR-20R-value
Floor InsulationR-19R-value
Window U-Factor0.32BTU/hr-ft²-°F
Window SHGC0.4Coefficient
Air Infiltration0.15ACH50

San Luis Obispo HVAC Contractors: Get Your Free Manual J Report

Climate Zone 3C requires precise load calculations. Upload your San Luis Obispo blueprint and get a professional Manual J report in 60 seconds— first report is FREE. Pre-loaded with San Luis Obispo's exact design temperatures (41°F winter / 81°F summer).

Claim Free Report
No credit card required

Verify Your San Luis Obispo ZIP Code

Enter your ZIP code to confirm it's in San Luis Obispo and get climate zone details.

San Luis Obispo covers 35 ZIP codes: 93401, 93402, 93405, 93420, 93422, 93424, 93428, 93430, 93432, 93433 and 25 more

San Luis Obispo Design Temperatures

Official ASHRAE design temperatures for San Luis Obispo, used for accurate Manual J load calculations.

Winter 99% Design Temp
41°F
Summer 1% Design Temp
81°F
Summer Wet Bulb
63°F

IECC Requirements for Zone 3C

Minimum insulation and window requirements for San Luis Obispo per IECC 2021.

Wall Insulation:R-20
Roof/Ceiling:R-30
Floor Insulation:R-19
Window U-Factor:0.32
Window SHGC:0.4

Energy Code: 2022 Title 24

Recommended HVAC Equipment for San Luis Obispo

Heating Systems

Gas furnace
Heat pump
Typical AFUE
90-95%

Cooling Systems

AC (often optional)
Heat pump
Typical SEER
14 SEER

Get Free Manual J Calculations for San Luis Obispo

Upload your San Luis Obispo blueprint and get a professional Manual J load calculation using official Zone 3C design temperatures. First report is FREE.

San Luis Obispo design temps
Zone 3C compliant
Ready in 60 seconds
Upload Blueprint - Get Free Report

Join 10,000+ San Luis Obispo contractors who trust AutoHVAC