Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development›Chapter IX — SPECIAL LAND USE REGULATIONS
Article 16 — Liquor Stores, Convenience Stores, and Mini-Markets
Costa Mesa Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Costa Mesa
§ 13-200.70. Purpose. ¶
The purpose of this article is to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the city by regulating and providing development standards for liquor stores, convenience stores, and mini-markets.
This article is intended to reduce problems associated with liquor stores, convenience stores, and minimarkets. Such problems include, but are not limited to, littering, loitering, graffiti, noise and interference with the quiet enjoyment of surrounding properties and uses. (Ord. No. 01-30, § 1b, 1-7-02)
§ 13-200.71. Conditional use permit required. ¶
A new liquor store, convenience store, or mini-market shall be subject to the approval of a conditional use permit, whether or not the business engages in retail sales of alcoholic beverages through a State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) off-sale license. An existing liquor store, convenience store, or mini-market shall also be subject to the approval of a conditional use permit for the following actions:
(a) Issuance of a new off-sale ABC license;
(b) Any change in the type of off-sale ABC license;
(c) Any type of premises to premises transfer of an existing off-sale ABC license;
(d) A cumulative expansion of 100 square feet or more of the gross floor area; or
(e) Any suspension or revocation of the off-sale ABC license for five days or more by the state in a cumulative five-year period by the state. The licensee of the establishment shall file and have approved a conditional use permit before the off-sale ABC license can be reestablished.
(Ord. No. 01-30, § 1b, 1-7-02; Ord. No. 10-1, § 1a., 1-19-10)
§ 13-200.72. Development and operational standards for liquor stores, convenience… ¶
The city council may adopt development and operational standards for liquor stores, convenience stores, and mini-markets that may be applied on a case-by-case basis as conditions of approval by the review authority. The final review authority may use the following standards in review of new conditional use permits to impose conditions of approval on the use to ensure compliance with the findings contained in Chapter III, Planning Applications:
(1) Alcoholic beverage sales from drive through or walk-up service windows shall be prohibited.
(2) Wine, beer and other distilled spirit shall be sold in the factory manufactured packages for retail sales. Factory multiple-packed bottles or cans shall not be unpackaged to be sold individually. This restriction is not intended to prohibit the sale of beverages in a single container packaged by the manufacturer for individual sale.
(3) Beer or wine shall not be displayed or sold from an ice tub or any other type of portable refrigerated unit.
(4) The business shall be conducted, at all times, in a manner that will allow the quiet enjoyment of the surrounding neighborhood. The business shall institute whatever security measures are necessary to comply with this requirement.
(Ord. No. 01-30, § 1b, 1-7-02; Ord. No. 10-1, § 1a., 1-19-10)
§ 13-200.73. Modification or revocation. ¶
(a) Public nuisance. If it is determined that certain characteristics of the liquor store, convenience market, or mini-market are detrimental to the public health, welfare, and safety and contrary to public interest, city council may declare the liquor store, convenience store, or mini-market as a public nuisance, as defined by California Civil Code sections 3479 and 3480 , and abate said nuisance pursuant to the procedures set forth in section 13-17 of the zoning code.
(b) Findings. In addition, the final review authority may modify or revoke a conditional use permit for a liquor store, convenience store, or mini-market based upon the findings in section 13-29(o), or upon making one or more of the following findings:
(1) That the approval was obtained through fraudulent, erroneous, or misleading information;
(2) The use is being operated in an illegal or disorderly manner;
(3) The terms or conditions of approval of the conditional use permit have been violated;
(4) The use creates an adverse impact on the health, safety, or welfare of surrounding properties and uses; or
(5) The use is operated in violation of ABC rules and regulations.
(Ord. No. 01-30, § 1b, 1-7-02; Ord. No. 10-1, § 1a., 1-19-10)
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Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — Costa Mesa Zoning Code
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▸ Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development
Overview- Chapter I — IN GENERAL
- Chapter II — ZONING DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED
- Chapter III — PLANNING APPLICATIONS
- Chapter IV — CITYWIDE LAND USE MATRIX
- Chapter V — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
- Chapter VII — LANDSCAPING STANDARDS
- Chapter VIII — SIGNS
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▸ Chapter IX — SPECIAL LAND USE REGULATIONS
Overview- Article 1 — Sexually-Oriented Businesses
- Article 2 — Antennas
- Article 3 — Concurrent Sale of Alcoholic Beverages and Motor V…
- 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 Activ…
- Article 21 — Location of Cannabis Distributing, Manufacturing,…
- Article 22 — An Ordinance to give the People of Costa Mesa Con…
- Article 23 — Needle and Syringe Exchange Programs
- Chapter X — NONCONFORMING USES, DEVELOPMENTS AND LOTS
- Chapter XI — SUBDIVISIONS
- Chapter XII — SPECIAL FEE ASSESSMENTS
- Chapter XIII — NOISE CONTROL
- Chapter XIV — OIL DRILLING
- Chapter XV — GROUP HOMES
- Chapter XVII — AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE