Several streets south of campus will be closed from 4 p.m. Friday, March 13 through 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department. Streets including Hathway Avenue, Bond Street, Fredericks Street and California Boulevard will experience closures or restricted access as the city works to prevent large street gatherings.
San Luis Obispo officials are preparing for large crowds this weekend as the annual St. Fratty’s Day celebrations return near Cal Poly, bringing road closures, increased law enforcement and doubled fines for violations.
READ MORE: History of St. Fratty’s Day at Cal Poly
Vehicles parked in posted no-parking zones within the closure will be towed, police said in an Instagram post.
Some neighborhoods near campus will also be designed resident-access-only zones. Residents entering those areas may be required to show a copy of their lease, including digital copies, to pass through checkpoints.
The closure will also affect bicycle and transit routes. The Phillips Lane bike bridge will be closed Saturday morning, and two SLO Transit bus routes will be detoured around the affected areas.
The road restrictions are part of a broader enforcement strategy as the city once again implements Safety Enhancement Zones during St. Patrick’s celebrations.
During these designated periods, fines for violations of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, including noise complaints, unruly gatherings, public urination and open container violations, are doubled. Noise violations and unruly gatherings will not receive warnings according to SLOPD.
Under the enhanced enforcement rules, fines begin at $700 for violations such as noise complaints, public urination and open containers, while unruly gathering violations start at $1,000.
City officials say the measures are intended to prevent the large street parties that have occurred in neighborhoods near Cal Poly in the past.
“Our goal is simple: keep our community safe and make it clear that disruptive street parties are not part of San Luis Obispo’s St. Patrick’s Day tradition,” San Luis Obispo Police Chief Rick Scott said in a press release.
Cal Poly is also hosting the second Morning on the Green concert at the Sports Complex Lower Fields on Saturday morning, which university officials say is intended to draw students away from neighborhood gatherings.
The concert, scheduled to begin at 4:45 a.m., is already sold out.
City officials say enforcement levels this year will be similar to those implemented in 2025 as the city and Cal Poly continue working together to discourage large street parties and encourage safer celebrations.