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Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development›Chapter IX — SPECIAL LAND USE REGULATIONS›Article 2 — Antennas

§ 13-143. Nonconforming antennas.

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

  • (a) Satellite dish antennas. Any satellite dish antenna in existence as of May 4, 1994 for which valid building permits have been issued, shall be considered legal non-conforming, and may be maintained, enlarged, expanded or changed in accordance with the provisions of this article.

  • (b) Amateur radio antennas.

    • (1) Any amateur radio antenna that was in existence as of September 7, 1989, may continue as a nonconforming development and need not comply with the development standards contained in section 13-142 , Development standards, provided that a record of its size, location, height and any other information deemed necessary by the development services director is on file with the planning division. In order to secure any right under this section, the amateur radio antenna owner must have established this record by May 7, 1990. The amateur radio antenna owner is responsible for providing the necessary information to the city for inclusion in the record of nonconforming amateur radio antennas.

    • (2) Replacement of an amateur radio antenna support structure shall be subject to all applicable regulations and issuance of appropriate permits. However, the supported antenna, including the array, may be replaced without issuance of a new building permit, provided the replacement antenna does not exceed the maximum weight, dimensions or wind load area specified in the current building permit or record on file with the planning division.

    • (3) Nonconforming amateur radio antennas which have been registered with the city as of May 7, 1990, may be enlarged, expanded or relocated only if the enlargement, expansion or relocation does not result in a greater nonconformity with the development standards specified in this article, or with the NCRP and the 1992 ANSI/IEEE regulations regarding environmental radiofrequency radiation, except as categorically excluded by the Federal Communications Commission.

    • (4) Nonconforming amateur radio antennas which have not been registered with the city as of May 7, 1990, may be enlarged, expanded, changed in use, increased in power, or relocated provided that the enlargement, expansion, change in use, or increase in power, is in compliance with the NCRP and the 1992 ANSI/IEEE regulations regarding environmental radiofrequency radiation, except as categorically excluded by the Federal Communications Commission and the antenna complies with applicable provisions of this article.

  • (c) Communication antennas.

    • (1) Any communication antenna in existence as of May 4, 1994 for which valid building permits have been issued, shall be considered legal and may be maintained, enlarged, expanded or changed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) .

  • (2) A nonconforming communication antenna with valid building permits may be enlarged, expanded or relocated only if the enlargement, expansion or relocation does not result in a greater nonconformity with the development standards specified in this article, and provided the antenna complies with the NCRP and the 1992 ANSI/IEEE regulations regarding environmental radiofrequency radiation. A nonconforming communication antenna with valid building permits may be changed in use and/or power, and/or converted to a transmitting antenna provided that ANSI/IEEE regulations regarding environmental radiofrequency radiation are complied with in addition to compliance with applicable requirements of this article, including Table 13-141, Antenna Review Requirements.

  • (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 98-5, §§ 24, 25, 3-2-98)

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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
    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
      2. ▸ Article 2 — Antennas
        Overview
        1. § 13-139. Purpose.
        2. § 13-140. Applicability.
        3. § 13-141. Permit requirements.
        4. § 13-142. Development standards.
        5. § 13-143. Nonconforming antennas.
        6. § 13-144. Minor conditional use permit requirements.
        7. § 13-145. Compatibility of regulations.
      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

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