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Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development›Chapter V — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS›Article 3 — Development Standards

§ 13-93. General standards.

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

All parking areas shall be constructed in accordance with the following standards:

  • (a) Driveway width.

    • (1) In residential projects, driveways providing access to one dwelling unit shall be at least 10 feet wide. Driveways providing access to two or more dwelling units shall be at least 16 feet wide. Driveways providing straight-in access from a public street to a garage shall be at least 19 feet long (as measured from the property line) except in the planned development zones (see Chapter V, Article 6, Planned Development).

    • (2) In commercial, industrial and institutional projects, all two-way driveways shall be at least 20 feet wide, and all one-way driveways shall be at least 14 feet wide.

    • (3) For all projects, shared driveway access between adjoining properties is subject to approval of a minor conditional use permit.

  • (b) Garage door widths. In residential developments with garages, the width of the garage doors shall be eight feet for single doors and 16 feet for double doors.

  • (c) Landscaping. For all projects landscaping shall be developed pursuant to Chapter VII, Landscaping Standards.

  • (d) Lighting. All required parking areas and driveways shall be illuminated under the direction of the planning division. Lights used to illuminate parking areas shall be directed away from any adjoining premises located in any residential zone under the direction of the planning division.

  • (e) Prohibited parking. In all zones, no parking shall be permitted in any required setback areas abutting a public street except in a driveway serving the garage of only one dwelling unit. Exception: In the R1 zone, the planning division may allow, by approval of a minor modification, the retention of an existing driveway access from a street to satisfy open parking requirements, at such time that garage access is proposed from an abutting alley.

  • (f) Screening. In residential zones, except for single-family detached homes, parking visible from a public street shall be screened in a manner acceptable to the planning division.

  • (g) Marking. Except for single-family detached homes, every parking space shall be clearly marked and such marking shall be maintained in a visible and legible manner.

  • (h) Wheel stops. The planning division may require that parking be designed to overhang landscaped areas by up to two feet or that concrete wheel stops be installed. Any broken or damaged wheel stop shall be replaced.

  • (i) Paving. Off-street parking areas and driveways shall be paved with asphaltic or concrete surfacing, unless approved otherwise by the development services department. The parking and driveways shall be graded and drained to dispose of all surface water to a public right-of-way or storm drain under the direction of the city engineer. In residential zones, the paving under required covered parking spaces shall be Portland cement concrete.

veways shall be paved with asphaltic or concrete surfacing, unless approved otherwise by the development services department. The parking and driveways shall be graded and drained to dispose of all surface water to a public right-of-way or storm drain under the direction of the city engineer. In residential zones, the paving under required covered parking spaces shall be Portland cement concrete.

  • (j) Parking spaces and back-up aisles. Parking spaces and back-up aisles shall conform to "City of Costa Mesa Parking Design Standards" which are included herein by this reference and which may be amended from time to time by resolution of the city council, unless an alternative plan is approved by the planning division.

  • (k) Ramp slopes. Ramp slopes shall conform to "City of Costa Mesa Ramp Slope Standards" which are included herein by this reference and which may be amended from time to time by resolution of the city council. Ramps which do not meet the ramp slope standards may be approved by a minor conditional use permit.

  • (l) Diagonal or perpendicular parking stalls. When diagonal or perpendicular parking stalls are provided only on one side of a driveway, the opposite side shall be clearly posted "NO PARKING, TOW AWAY ZONE."

  • (m) Location of parking spaces. Except in common interest developments, all required off-street parking spaces shall be located on the same lot as the use for which it is required except that such required spaces may be permitted at other locations when and as authorized by a conditional use permit.

  • (n) Vehicular circulation. Parking areas shall provide internal circulation or sufficient designated turnaround space pursuant to the "City of Costa Mesa Parking Design Standards."

  • (o) Garages in nonresidential developments. Required parking for nonresidential projects shall not be enclosed with a garage, unless authorized by a minor conditional use permit. A development review is required for enclosing excess parking spaces with a garage.

(Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 98-5, §§ 17—19, 3-2-98; Ord. No. 03-8, § 9, 9-2-03)

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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
      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
        Overview
        1. § 13-92. Purpose.
        2. § 13-93. General standards.
        3. § 13-94. Small car parking.
        4. § 13-95. Accessible parking for handicapped persons.
        5. § 13-96. Parking spaces permanently available for automobile p…
        6. § 13-98. Declaration of land use restriction.
        7. § 13-99. Vehicle standing, loading and unloading.
        8. § 13-100. Transportation demand management requirements.
    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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