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Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development›Chapter V — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS›Article 4 — Establishments Where Food or Beverages are Served

§ 13-49. Development standards for establishments within two hundred feet of…

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

Establishments where food or beverages are served that are within 200 feet of residentially-zoned property shall comply with the following development standards, unless the standards are modified through the issuance of a minor conditional use permit or conditional use permit.

  • (a) All exterior lighting shall be shielded and/or directed away from residential areas.

(b) Outdoor public communication systems shall not be audible in adjacent residential areas.

  • (c) Trash facilities shall be screened from view and designed and located appropriately to minimize potential noise and odor impacts to adjacent residential areas.

  • (d) Outdoor seating areas shall be oriented away or sufficiently buffered from adjacent residential areas.

  • (e) For new construction, a landscaped planter area, a minimum of five feet in width, shall be provided as an additional buffer to adjacent residential areas. The planter area shall contain appropriate plant materials to provide an immediate and effective screen. Plant materials shall meet with the approval of the planning division. For remodels, the planning division may also require the construction of a landscaped planter area to buffer adjacent residential areas, if feasible.

  • (f) For new construction, all interior property lines abutting residentially-zoned property shall have a minimum six-foot high masonry wall, as measured from the highest grade. An eight-foot high masonry wall may be required, based on the establishment's operational characteristics, in order to provide additional protection to adjacent residential uses. A planning application may be required for walls exceeding six feet in height. For remodels, the planning division may also require the construction of a masonry wall to buffer adjacent residential areas, if feasible.

  • (g) Hours of operation for customer service shall not occur any time between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

  • (h) Truck deliveries shall not occur anytime between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 2024-01, 1/16/2024)

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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
        Overview
        1. § 13-46. Purpose.
        2. § 13-47. Permitted and conditionally permitted uses.
        3. § 13-48. General development standards.
        4. § 13-49. Development standards for establishments within two h…
        5. § 13-50. Development standards for drive-through operations.
        6. § 13-51. Applicability.
      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
    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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