Earlier editions: 2026-07
Municipal code
Costa Mesa Municipal Code
The enacted municipal code of Costa Mesa, California, as published — every title, chapter, and section, verbatim and citable.
- Last updated
- 2026-10-04
- Contents
- 23 titles · 2,102 sections
- Jurisdiction
- Costa Mesa
Contents
- Chapter AO — Adopting Ordinance
▸Title 1 — General Provisions
▸Title 2 — Administration
Overview- Chapter I — IN GENERAL
▸Chapter II — CITY COUNCIL GENERALLY
- Chapter III — CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES
▸Chapter IV — CITY MANAGER
▸Chapter IV1 — /2. CITY ATTORNEY
▸Chapter V — FINANCE
Overview- Article 1 — Generally
▸Article 2 — Purchasing
- Article 3 — Public Projects
▸Article 4 — Claims Against City
- Article 5 — Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund
- Article 6 — Excess Proceeds of Taxes Reserve Accounts
- Article 7 — Use of General Fund Cash Reserves
▸Article 8 — Capital Asset Needs
- Article 9 — Information Technology Needs
▸Chapter VI — PERSONNEL
Overview▸Article 1 — Purpose, Rules and Retirement
- Chapter VII — INSPECTION AND DUPLICATION OF CITY RECORDS
- Chapter VIII — ADVISORY COMMITTEES
- Chapter IX — APPEAL AND REVIEW PROCEDURE
- Chapter X — CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE
- Chapter XI — ADDITIONAL REGULATORY FEES
▸Title 3 — Animal Regulations
▸Title 5 — Buildings and Structures
Overview▸Chapter I — IN GENERAL
- Chapter IV — SWIMMING POOLS
▸Chapter V — MOVING OR RELOCATION OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
Overview- Article 1 — In General
▸Article 2 — Moving of Buildings or Structures
▸Article 3 — Relocation of Buildings or Structures Within the City
- Chapter VII — HANDICAP ACCESS
- Chapter VIII — REPORT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING RECORDS
- Chapter IX — IN-BUILDING PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM COVERAGE
- Chapter X — SMALL RESIDENTIAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM PERMITS
- Chapter XI — ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION PERMITS
▸Title 6 — Disaster Relief and Civil Defense
▸Title 7 — Fire Protection and Prevention
▸Title 8 — Health and Sanitation
Overview- Chapter I — IN GENERAL
▸Chapter II — FOOD AND FOOD HANDLERS
- Chapter III — WATER QUALITY
- Chapter IV — GARBAGE, RUBBISH AND WEEDS
▸Chapter V — SMOKING IN PUBLIC FACILITIES
- Chapter VI — TATTOOING ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION REGULATIONS
▸Title 9 — Licenses and Business Regulations
Overview▸Chapter I — BUSINESS TAX
Overview- Article 1 — Generally
- Article 2 — Definitions
- Article 3 — Exemptions
- Article 4 — Schedules
▸Article 5 — Administration, Application and Procedures
- Article 6 — Enforcement
▸Chapter II — REGULATION OF CERTAIN BUSINESSES
Overview- Article 2 — Commercial Peddling/Soliciting
- Article 3 — Handbill Circulation
- Article 4 — Sound Trucks
- Article 5 — Ambulance Businesses
▸Article 51 — /2. Sales of Single Seasonal Agricultural Products
- Article 6 — Christmas Tree Lots
- Article 8 — Fireworks Sales
▸Article 9 — Pushcart and Other Sidewalk Vendors
- Article 10 — House Number Painters
- Article 11 — Regulatory Permits for Public Entertainment
▸Article 111 — /2. Regulatory Permits for Special Events
- Article 113 — /4. Regulatory Permits for Block Parties
- Article 12 — Secondhand Dealers
- Article 13 — Signs and Billboards
- Article 14 — Charitable Solicitations
- Article 15 — Swap Meets
▸Article 16 — Taxicabs
- Article 17 — Wheelchair Bus Service
▸Article 18 — Towing Services
- Article 19 — Mobile X-Ray Units
- Article 20 — Rental of Storage Containers or Devices
- Article 21 — Bingo Games for Charity
- Article 22 — Massage Establishments and Practitioners
- Article 23 — Group Homes
- Chapter III — AUTO WRECKING, DISASSEMBLING AND DISMANTLING BUSINESS
▸Chapter IV — SEXUALLY-ORIENTED BUSINESS REGULATIONS
- Chapter V — FILMING ACTIVITIES
▸Chapter VI — CANNABIS BUSINESS PERMITS
▸Title 10 — Motor Vehicles and Traffic
Overview- Chapter I — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter II — TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter III — ENFORCEMENT AND OBEDIENCE TO REGULATIONS
- Chapter IV — TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES
- Chapter V — TURNING MOVEMENTS
- Chapter VI — ONE-WAY STREETS AND ALLEYS
- Chapter VII — SPECIAL STOPS REQUIRED
- Chapter VIII — MISCELLANEOUS DRIVING RULES
- Chapter IX — PEDESTRIANS' REGULATIONS
- Chapter X — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING GENERALLY
▸Chapter XI — STOPPING, STANDING OR PARKING RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED ON CERTAIN STREETS
- Chapter XII — STOPPING FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING ONLY
- Chapter XIII — RESTRICTED USE OF CERTAIN STREETS
- Chapter XIV — PARKING METERS
▸Chapter XV — VEHICLE PARKING DISTRICTS
- Chapter XVII — SPECIAL SPEED ZONES
- Chapter XVIII — INTERSTATE TRUCKS
▸Chapter XIX — SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS, OR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STREETS AND CERTAIN …
- Chapter XX — MOTOR VEHICLE AIR POLLUTION REDUCTION
- Chapter XXI — COMMERCIAL VENDING VEHICLES
▸Title 11 — Offenses—Miscellaneous
Overview- Chapter I — IN GENERAL
- Chapter I1 — /2. TOBACCO SALES REGULATIONS TO PROTECT MINORS
- Chapter II — GAMBLING
▸Chapter III — CURFEW FOR MINORS
- Chapter V — INDECENT EXPOSURE
▸Chapter VI — REGULATION OF VENDING MACHINES ON THE PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY
Overview- Article 1 — In General
- Article 2 — Regulation of Type or Model of Vending Machine Permitted
- Article 3 — Establishment of General Locations
- Article 4 — Specific Physical Location Standards
▸Article 5 — Enforcement, Abatement, Appeal and Severability Provisions
- Chapter VII — REGULATION OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, DEVICES, AND REFUSE CONTAINERS UPON CITY S…
▸Chapter VII1 — /2. GRAFFITI
- Chapter VIII — REGULATION OF PRIVATE ALARM SYSTEMS
- Chapter IX1 — /2. POLICE SERVICES AT PARTIES, GATHERINGS AND EVENTS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
- Chapter X — REGULATION OF DISPLAY OF MATERIAL WHICH IS HARMFUL TO MINORS IN A PUBLIC PLACE
- Chapter XI — AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING
- Chapter XII — NARCOTICS AND GANG RELATED CRIME EVICTION PROGRAM
- Chapter XIV — CAMPING AND STORAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY IN PUBLIC AREAS
- Chapter XV — UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A CATALYTIC CONVERTER
- Chapter XVI — PROHIBITION ON SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF NITROUS OXIDE
▸Title 12 — Parks and Recreation
▸Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development
Overview- Chapter II — ZONING DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED
- Chapter III — PLANNING APPLICATIONS
- Chapter IV — CITYWIDE LAND USE MATRIX
▸Chapter V — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Overview▸Article 1 — Residential Districts
- Article 2 — Residential Common Interest Developments
- Article 2.5 — Residential Small lot Subdivisions
- Article 3 — Commercial Districts
- Article 4 — Establishments Where Food or Beverages are Served
- Article 4.5 — Development Standards for Churches and Other Places of Religious Assembly
- Article 5 — Industrial Districts
- Article 5.5 — Non-Residential Common Interest Developments
- Article 6 — Planned Development
- Article 7 — Institutional and Recreational, Institutional and Recreational School Districts, a…
- Article 8 — Floor Area Ratios
▸Article 9 — General Site Improvement Standards
- Article 10 — Floodway and Floodplain Districts
- Article 11 — Mixed-Use Overlay District
- Article 12 — Residential Incentive Overlay District
▸Chapter VI — OFF-STREET PARKING STANDARDS
Overview- Article 1 — Residential Districts
▸Article 2 — Non-Residential Districts
- Article 3 — Development Standards
▸Chapter VII — LANDSCAPING STANDARDS
▸Chapter VIII — SIGNS
Overview- Article 1 — Purpose and Scope
- Article 2 — General Provisions
▸Article 3 — Sign Regulations
- Article 4 — Special Procedures
▸Article 5 — Nonconforming Signs
▸Article 6 — Portable Signs Within the Public Right-of-Way
- Article 7 — Administration and Enforcement
▸Chapter IX — SPECIAL LAND USE REGULATIONS
Overview- Article 1 — Sexually-Oriented Businesses
- Article 2 — Antennas
- Article 3 — Concurrent Sale of Alcoholic Beverages and Motor Vehicle Fuel
- Article 4 — Density Bonuses and other Incentives
- Article 5 — Electronic Game Machines
- Article 6 — Home Occupations
- Article 7 — Mini-Warehouses
▸Article 8 — Motels
- Article 9 — Off-Site Hazardous Waste Facilities
- Article 10 — Temporary Trailers
- Article 11 — Transitional Areas
- Article 12 — Transportation Demand Management
- Article 13 — Water Quality
- Article 14 — Historic Preservation
- Article 15 — Reasonable Accommodations
- Article 16 — Liquor Stores, Convenience Stores, and Mini-Markets
- Article 17 — Orange County Fair and Event Center
- Article 18 — Emergency Shelters
- Article 19 — Smoking and Vaping Uses
- Article 20 — Marijuana and/or Medical Marijuana uses and Activities
- Article 21 — Location of Cannabis Distributing, Manufacturing, Research and Development, Testi…
- Article 22 — An Ordinance to give the People of Costa Mesa Control of Their Future
- Article 23 — Needle and Syringe Exchange Programs
▸Chapter X — NONCONFORMING USES, DEVELOPMENTS AND LOTS
▸Chapter XI — SUBDIVISIONS
- Chapter XIII — NOISE CONTROL
- Chapter XIV — OIL DRILLING
- Chapter XV — GROUP HOMES
- Chapter XVI — GROUP HOMES IN THE R2-MD, R2-HD AND R3 RESIDENTIAL ZONES AND THE PDR-LD, PDR-MD,…
- Chapter XVII — AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE
▸Title 14 — Police and Law Enforcement
▸Title 15 — Public Works
Overview- Chapter I — IN GENERAL
▸Chapter IA — SHOPPING CART REGULATIONS
▸Chapter II — WORK ON OR AFFECTING STREETS
- Chapter III — DRAINAGE
▸Chapter IV — UTILITY FRANCHISES
- Chapter V — PARKWAY TREES
- Chapter VI — UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICTS
▸Title 16 — Taxation
▸Title 17 — Trailers and Trailer Parks
▸Title 19 — Franchises
Overview▸Chapter I — TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY ORDINANCE
- Chapter II — PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SHELTERS AND BENCHES
- Chapter III — WIRELESS DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS RADIO NETWORKS
▸Title 20 — Property Maintenance
Overview- Chapter I — IN GENERAL
- Chapter II — PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS
▸Chapter III — PUBLIC NUISANCE ABATEMENT
- Title SR — Statutory References for California Cities
- Title CCT — Code Comparative Table Ordinances