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Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development›Chapter I — IN GENERAL›Article 4 — Enforcement

§ 13-16. Enforcement.

Costa Mesa Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Costa Mesa

  • (a) Criminal prosecution. Any person, whether as principal, agent, or employee, violating the terms of this zoning code may be prosecuted as provided in section 1-33 of this Municipal Code.

  • (b) Criminal citation. For the purposes of this zoning code, a violation of the terms of this zoning code may be cited as either an infraction or misdemeanor pursuant to State Government Code sections 36900 and 36901 and as provided in section 1-33 of this Municipal Code.

  • (c) Civil action. As an alternative to prosecution or citation, or as an additional action, the city attorney may, at the request of the development services director, institute an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain, enjoin, or abate the condition(s) or activity(ies) found to be in violation of the provisions of this zoning code.

  • (d) No criminal prosecution, citation or penalty. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, no person shall be criminally prosecuted or cited, or suffer any criminal penalty, for any violation of the provisions of section 13-30 , table 1330, rows 31a and/or 31b relating to the prohibition of medical marijuana dispensaries or medical marijuana cultivation within the city, or for a violation of the provisions of Chapter IX, Article 20 related to the prohibition against medical marijuana cultivation.

  • (e) Nuisance. Any use, structure, or property that is altered, enlarged, erected, established, maintained, moved, or operated contrary to the provisions of this title or any condition of approval, is hereby declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance and may be abated by the city through civil proceedings by means of a restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, or in any other manner provided by law for the abatement of such nuisances.

  • (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 10-13, § 2, 10-19-10; Ord. No. 10-14, § 2, 11-16-10; Ord. No. 16-01, § 2, 1-19-16)

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▸ Contents — Costa Mesa Zoning Code
Costa Mesa Zoning Code
  1. ▸ Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development
    Overview
    1. ▸ Chapter I — IN GENERAL
      Overview
      1. Article 1 — Title and Authority
      2. Article 2 — Definitions
      3. Article 3 — Review Authorities
      4. ▸ Article 4 — Enforcement
        Overview
        1. § 13-13. Purpose.
        2. § 13-14. Enforcement officer designated.
        3. § 13-15. Duties.
        4. § 13-16. Enforcement.
        5. § 13-17. Public nuisance defined; procedure.
        6. § 13-18. Remedies cumulative.
    2. Chapter II — ZONING DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED
    3. Chapter III — PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    4. Chapter IV — CITYWIDE LAND USE MATRIX
    5. Chapter V — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
    6. Chapter VII — LANDSCAPING STANDARDS
    7. Chapter VIII — SIGNS
    8. Chapter IX — SPECIAL LAND USE REGULATIONS
    9. Chapter X — NONCONFORMING USES, DEVELOPMENTS AND LOTS
    10. Chapter XI — SUBDIVISIONS
    11. Chapter XII — SPECIAL FEE ASSESSMENTS
    12. Chapter XIII — NOISE CONTROL
    13. Chapter XIV — OIL DRILLING
    14. Chapter XV — GROUP HOMES
    15. Chapter XVII — AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE

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