Earlier editions: 2026-07
Title 20 — Property Maintenance›Chapter III — PUBLIC NUISANCE ABATEMENT
Costa Mesa Municipal Code Art. 3 Public Nuisance Abatement—Abandoned, Wrecked, Dismantled or Inoperative…
Costa Mesa Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Costa Mesa
Cite as: Costa Mesa Municipal Code Article 3 · Text as of 2026-10-04
§ 20-34. Notice.¶
A ten-day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle, or part thereof, as a public nuisance shall be mailed by registered mail to the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located and to the owner of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. The notices of intention shall be in substantially the following forms:
| NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ABATE AND REMOVE AN ABANDONED, WRECKED, DISMANTLED, OR INOPERATIVE VEHICLE OR PART THEREOF AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE. |
|---|
| [Name and address of owner of the property on which the vehicle is located.] |
| As owner shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the land located at (address), you are hereby notified that the undersigned pursuant to Title 20 , Costa Mesa Municipal Code) has determined that there exists upon said land an (or part of an) abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle registered to ___________, license number ___________, which constitutes a public nuisance. You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle (or said part of a vehicle) within 10-days from the date of mailing of this notice, and upon your failure to do so the same will be abated and removed by the City of Costa Mesa, and the costs thereof, together with administrative costs, assessed to you as responsible person on which said vehicle (or said part of a vehicle) is located. |
| As responsible person on which said vehicle (or said part of a vehicle) is located, you are hereby notified that you may, within 10 days after the mailing of this notice of intention, request a public hearing and if such a request is not received by the city council within the 10-day period, the City of Costa Mesa shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle (or said part of a vehicle) as a public nuisance and assess the costs as aforesaid without a public hearing. You may submit a sworn written statement within such 10-day period denying responsibility for the presence of said vehicle (or said part of a vehicle) on said land, with your reasons for denial, and such statement shall be construed as a request for hearing at which your presence is not required. You may appear in person at any hearing requested by you or the owner of the vehicle or, in lieu thereof, may present a sworn written statement as aforesaid in time for consideration at such hearing. |
| Notice Mailed |
| (Date) ___________ CITY OF COSTA MESA By __________ Development Services Director |
| NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ABATE AND REMOVE AN ABANDONED, WRECKED, DISMANTLED OR INOPERATIVE VEHICLE OR PART THEREOF AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE. |
| [Name and address of last registered and legal owner(s) of record of vehicle—notice should be given to both if different.] |
| As last registered (and/ |
| You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle (or said part of a vehicle) within 10 days from the date of mailing of this notice. |
| As registered (and/ |
| Notice Mailed ___________ |
| (Date) ___________; CITY OF COSTA MESA |
| By __________________________ Development Services Director |
(Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 10-1-13)
§ 20-35. Public hearing upon written request.¶
Upon request by the owner of the vehicle or the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located received by the city within 10 days after the mailing of the notices of intention to abate and remove, a public hearing shall be held by the director on the question of abatement and removal of the vehicle, or part thereof, as an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, and the assessment of the administrative costs and the costs of removal of the vehicle, or part thereof, against the property on which it is located.
(Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 10-1-13)
§ 20-36. Public hearing upon constructive request; notice of hearing; authority to…¶
If the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located submits a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on his/her land within such 10 day period, the statement shall be construed as a request for a hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed, by registered mail, at least 10 days before the hearing to the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located and to the owner of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. If such a request for hearing is not received within 10 days after mailing of the notice of intention to abate and remove, the city shall have the authority to abate and remove the vehicle, or part thereof, as a public nuisance without holding a public hearing.
(Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 10-1-13)
§ 20-37. City council to hear facts and testimony.¶
All hearings under this title shall be held before the city council at their next regular meeting, who shall hear all relevant facts and testimony. Such evidence may include testimony on the condition of the vehicle, or part thereof, and the circumstances concerning its location on the property. The city council shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence. The owner of the property on which the vehicle is located may appear in person at the hearing or present a sworn written statement in time for consideration at the hearing and deny responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on the land with his/her reasons for such denial.
(Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 10-1-13)
§ 20-38. General powers of city council; notice of city council's decision.¶
(a) The city council may impose such conditions and take such other action as it deems appropriate under the circumstances to carry out the purposes of this article. The city council may delay the time for removal of the vehicle, or part thereof, if, in its opinion, the circumstances justify it. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the city council may find that a vehicle, or part thereof, has been abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or is inoperative on private or public property and order the same removed from the property as a public nuisance and disposed of as hereinafter provided and determine the administrative costs and the cost of removal to be charged against the responsible person. The order requiring removal shall include a description of the vehicle, or part thereof, and the correct identification number and license number of the vehicle, if available at the site.
(b) If it is determined at the hearing that the vehicle, or part thereof, was placed without the consent of the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located, and that the property owner has not subsequently acquiesced to the vehicle's presence, the city council shall not assess the costs of administration or removal of the vehicle, or part thereof, against the property upon which the vehicle, or part thereof, is located or otherwise attempt to collect such costs from the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located.
(c) If the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located submits a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on his/her land but does not appear, or if an interested party makes a written presentation to the director but does not appear, he/she shall be notified in writing of the decision.
(d) The city council's decision shall be final, and shall specify that any action to review its decision shall be commenced no later than the time period set forth in the California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6.
(Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 10-1-13)
§ 20-39. Disposal.¶
Seven days after adoption of the order declaring the vehicle, or part thereof, to be a public nuisance, or seven days from the date of mailing of notice of the decision if such notice is required by this article, the vehicle, or part thereof, may be disposed of by removal to a scrap yard or automobile dismantler's yard. After a vehicle has been removed it shall not thereafter be reconstructed or made operable, unless it is a vehicle that qualifies for either horseless carriage license plates or historical vehicle license plates, pursuant to Vehicle Code section 5004, in which case the vehicle may be reconstructed or made operable.
(Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 10-1-13)
§ 20-40. Notice of removal to department of motor vehicles.¶
Within five days after the removal of the vehicle, or part thereof, the director shall provide notice to the DMV identifying the vehicle removed, or the parts thereof. The director shall also transmit to the DMV any evidence of registration available, including, but not limited to the registration card, certificates of ownership, and license plates.
(Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 10-1-13)
§ 20-41. Costs of removal assessed.¶
If the administrative costs and the cost of removal which are charged against the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located or any other known responsible person pursuant to this title are not paid within 30 days of the date of the order, or the final disposition of an appeal therefrom, such costs shall be assessed against the parcel of land pursuant to section 38773.5 of the Government Code, and shall be transmitted to the tax collector for collection. The assessment shall have the same priority as other city taxes.
(Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 10-1-13)
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