Skip to content

Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development›Chapter IX — SPECIAL LAND USE REGULATIONS›Article 1 — Sexually-Oriented Businesses

§ 13-129. Purpose and intent.

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

The purpose and intent of this article are to regulate sexually-oriented businesses which, unless closely regulated, tend to have serious negative secondary effects on the community, which effects include, but are not limited to, the following: depreciation of property values and increase in vacancies in residential and commercial areas in the vicinity of sexually-oriented businesses; interference with residential property owners' enjoyment of their property when such property is located in the vicinity of sexually-oriented businesses as a result of increases in crime, litter, noise and vandalism; higher crime rates in the vicinity of sexually-oriented businesses; and blighting conditions such as low-level maintenance of commercial premises and parking lots, which thereby have a deleterious effect upon adjacent areas. Special regulation of these businesses is necessary to prevent these adverse effects and the blighting or degradation of the neighborhoods in the vicinity of the sexually-oriented businesses.

It is neither the intent nor the effect of this article to impose limitations or restrictions on the content of any communicative material. Similarly, it is neither the intent nor the effect of this article to restrict or deny access by adults to communication materials or to deny access by the distributors or exhibitors of sexually-oriented businesses to their intended market.

Nothing in this article is intended to authorize, legalize or permit the establishment, operation or maintenance of any business, building or use which violates any city ordinance or any statute of the State of California regarding public nuisances, unlawful or indecent exposure, sexual conduct, lewdness or obscene or harmful matter or the exhibition or public display thereof.

Notwithstanding any other provision of Title 13 of the "City of Costa Mesa Planning, Zoning and Development Code," the regulations set forth under this article shall apply specifically to sexually-oriented businesses. To the extent there are any inconsistencies between the provisions of sections 13-1 through 13-128 and the provisions of this Article 1, the provisions of this article shall govern. (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 98-4, § 4, 2-2-98)

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
▸ Contents — Costa Mesa Zoning Code
Costa Mesa Zoning Code
  1. ▸ Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development
    Overview
    1. Chapter I — IN GENERAL
    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
      Overview
      1. ▸ Article 1 — Sexually-Oriented Businesses
        Overview
        1. § 13-129. Purpose and intent.
        2. § 13-130. Definitions.
        3. § 13-131. Exceptions to the article.
        4. § 13-132. Establishment of sexually-oriented business.
        5. § 13-133. Measurement of distance.
        6. § 13-134. Misdemeanor offenses.
        7. § 13-135. Violations/penalties.
        8. § 13-136. Public nuisance.
        9. § 13-137. Other regulations.
      2. Article 2 — Antennas
      3. Article 3 — Concurrent Sale of Alcoholic Beverages and Motor V…
      4. Article 4 — Density Bonuses and other Incentives
      5. Article 5 — Electronic Game Machines
      6. Article 6 — Home Occupations
      7. Article 7 — Mini-Warehouses
      8. Article 8 — Motels
      9. Article 9 — Off-Site Hazardous Waste Facilities
      10. Article 10 — Temporary Trailers
      11. Article 11 — Transitional Areas
      12. Article 12 — Transportation Demand Management
      13. Article 13 — Water Quality
      14. Article 14 — Historic Preservation
      15. Article 15 — Reasonable Accommodations
      16. Article 16 — Liquor Stores, Convenience Stores, and Mini-Markets
      17. Article 17 — Orange County Fair and Event Center
      18. Article 18 — Emergency Shelters
      19. Article 19 — Smoking and Vaping Uses
      20. Article 20 — Marijuana and/or Medical Marijuana uses and Activ…
      21. Article 21 — Location of Cannabis Distributing, Manufacturing,…
      22. Article 22 — An Ordinance to give the People of Costa Mesa Con…
      23. Article 23 — Needle and Syringe Exchange Programs
    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

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.