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Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development›Chapter V — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS›Article 10 — Floodway and Floodplain Districts

§ 13-81. Uses permitted in the designated floodway fringe and special flood hazard…

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

(a) Permitted uses.

  • (1) All permitted uses in the floodway areas.

  • (2) New structures and improvements, including the placement of buildings within the floodway fringe or special flood hazard areas developed in conformance with the provisions of section 13-82(d) procedures and development standards through 1382(f), inclusive.

  • (b) Prohibited uses.

    • (1) Landfills, excavations, improvements, developments or encroachments that will obstruct or create debris-catching obstacles to passage of the design flood, or that cause a cumulative increase in the elevation of the design flood-water profile more than one foot at any point, or that will tend to broaden or direct flood flows out of the natural floodplain, or otherwise cause a potential hazard to public safety or property resulting from flood flows in the floodway fringe or special flood hazard areas.

    • (2) Storage of floatable substances or materials.

    • (3) Storage or disposal of chemicals, explosives, flammable liquids or other toxic materials in areas or structures that have not been made floodproof.

  • (c) Conditional uses.

    • (1) Additional uses not specifically listed above as either a permitted or prohibited use may be considered for approval as a conditional use, according to the procedures set forth in Chapter III, planning applications. However, no conditional use permit shall be approved unless the following finding can be made:

The proposed project, along or in combination with any existing developments, will not endanger public safety, will not increase flood heights, and will not increase the velocity of floodwaters.

  • (2) Applicants for conditional use permits shall be required to submit studies, plans or other evidence prepared by a registered professional engineer or architect to support the required findings necessary for approval of the conditional use permit.

  • (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 04-1, § 1, 1-20-04; Ord. No. 06-20, §§ 1f., g., 9-19-06)

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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
      Overview
      1. Article 1 — Residential Districts
      2. Article 2 — Residential Common Interest Developments
      3. Article 2.5 — Residential Small lot Subdivisions
      4. Article 3 — Commercial Districts
      5. Article 4 — Establishments Where Food or Beverages are Served
      6. Article 4.5 — Development Standards for Churches and Other Pla…
      7. Article 5 — Industrial Districts
      8. Article 5.5 — Non-Residential Common Interest Developments
      9. Article 6 — Planned Development
      10. Article 7 — Institutional and Recreational, Institutional and …
      11. Article 8 — Floor Area Ratios
      12. Article 9 — General Site Improvement Standards
      13. ▸ Article 10 — Floodway and Floodplain Districts
        Overview
        1. § 13-77. Purpose.
        2. § 13-78. Definitions.
        3. § 13-79. Application.
        4. § 13-80. Uses permitted in the floodway areas.
        5. § 13-81. Uses permitted in the designated floodway fringe and …
        6. § 13-82. Procedures and development standards for floodway are…
        7. § 13-83. Exceptions to designate flood hazard area.
      14. Article 11 — Mixed-Use Overlay District
      15. Article 12 — Residential Incentive Overlay District
      16. Article 1 — Residential Districts
      17. Article 2 — Non-Residential Districts
      18. Article 3 — 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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