§ 13-142. Development standards. — Costa Mesa Zoning Code

Table 13-142 identifies the development standards for antennas. Proposed antennas not in compliance with the applicable development standards shall require the approval of a minor conditional use permit pursuant to section 13-144 , Minor conditional use permit requirements.

(click here to view the full table)

	TABLE 13-142 ANTENNA DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
STANDARDS	SATELLITE DISH	AMATEUR RADIO	COMMUNICATION
Maximum Height (measured from the property's grade to the highest point of the antenna)
Residential Zone or Nonresidential Zone Adjacent to a Residential Zone:	15 feet	75 feet	30 feet
Other Nonresidential Zone:	Not to exceed allowable building height	Same as above	Same as above
Front Yard Location Permitted		No
Side and Rear Setbacks (setbacks	apply to antenna support structure and to arrays and projections attached thereto, unless otherwise noted)
Residential Zone:	Side: Comply with setbacks for accessory structures, with a minimum setback of 5 feet. Rear: Ground-mounted antenna support structures may be located in a required rear yard if located as far forward as possible from the rear property line. Minimum of 5 feet for arrays and projections attached to the antenna support structure.
Nonresidential Zone:	Side and Rear: Comply with setbacks for main structures, with a minimum setback of 5 feet. Exception: Side and/or Rear, when adjacent to a Residential Zone: Minimum of 5 feet from the residential property line. Additionally, the antenna support structure shall be located as far as possible from the residential property line.
Roof-mounted Location	Shall be located on the portion of the roof farthest from any adjacent street, residential zone (if applicable), bluff, and/or park, whichever location will result in the least visual impact.
Maximum Number Residential Zone or Nonresidential Zone adjacent to a Residential Zone:	One Exception: Legally subdivided residential units in small lot subdivision projects, and units in Planned Unit Development projects with individual lots, shall each be allowed one satellite dish antenna unless otherwise prohibited.	One antenna support structure in excess of 30 feet. One whip antenna in excess of 30 feet. Note: There is no limit on the number of antennas which do not exceed 30 feet in height.	One antenna support structure
Other Nonresidential Zone:	No regulation	No regulation	No regulation
Maximum Diameter Residential Zone or Nonresidential Zone adjacent to a Residential Zone:	10 feet	Any dish-shaped element attached to an antenna: 2 feet Exception: Any dish-shaped element in excess of 2 feet in diameter that is attached to an antenna shall require approval of a minor conditional use permit and comply with the satellite dish antenna development standards regarding maximum height (applicable to dish element only) diameter, screening and materials, as applicable.
Other Nonresidential Zone:	No regulation	Dish-shaped elements in excess of 2 feet in diameter shall comply with the satellite dish antenna development standards regarding maximum height (applicable to dish element only) and materials.
Screening Required Residential Zone or Nonresidential Zone adjacent to a Residential Zone:	Screening, either partial or total, may be required by the planning division when the antenna is visible from off site. The screening may consist of a solid, opaque fence, wall, vegetation, landscaping and/or any other material deemed acceptable by the planning division.	Ground-mounted: No regulation. Roof-mounted: Antennas less than 30 feet in height: No regulation. Antennas 30 feet or more in height: Screening may be required in Nonresidential Zones if necessary to lessen visual impacts on the adjacent Residential Zone(s), under the direction of the planning division.	Ground-mounted: Screening shall be required when the antenna and support structures/equipment is visible from off site. Roof-mounted: Screening may be required if necessary to lessen visual impacts, under the direction of the planning division.
Other Nonresidential Zone:	No regulation		Same as above
Color	All antennas visible from off-site shall be fnished in a color deemed unobtrusive to the neighborhood in which it is located, under the direction of the planning division.
Signs	No sign of any kind shall be posted or displayed on any antenna.
Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation	No transmitting antenna or facility, except as categorically excluded by the Federal Communication Commission, shall exceed the radiofrequency (RF) radiation and maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limits for electrical and magnetic feld strength and power density established by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) and the 1992 ANSI/IEEE for an "uncontrolled environment." It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide evidence of compliance with applicable standards.
Wiring	All electrical and antenna wiring shall be encased in tubing or other devices acceptable to the planning division and/or concealed to the maximum extent feasible to minimize visual impact.

	TABLE 13-142 ANTENNA DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
STANDARDS	SATELLITE DISH	AMATEUR RADIO	COMMUNICATION
Materials	When the antenna exceeds 6 feet in construction. Not applicable.	height above grade, the dish-shaped	element shall be of a mesh
Other Requirements	Ground-mounted antennas shall not reduce the area required for parking, internal circulation or other development standards in this Zoning Code. All antennas shall be permanently mounted, and no antenna may be installed on a portable or movable structure.

(Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 98-5, § 23, 3-2-98; Ord. No. 21-20, § 1, 12-7-21; Ord. 2025-07, 10/21/2025)