Costa Mesa · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa sets fence limits on corner lots and near intersections and limits home businesses to one room inside the home. It also has a section on accessory buildings and structures.

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Key points

Corner fences: On corner lots, fences over 3½ feet must be 5 feet from the street side line; in a visibility triangle, 2½ feet.
Home businesses: A home business needs a permit and business license, is limited to one room inside the home, and only permanent residents may work there.
Accessory structures: Costa Mesa regulates accessory buildings and structures in Section 13-33 of its code.

Each rule below is marked Costa Mesa code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Costa Mesa code What Costa Mesa's code adds
Corner visibility	Corner lots: walls or fences over 3.5 feet must be set back 5 feet from the street side property line. Applies: Inside a visibility triangle, fences, walls and landscaping may be no more than 2.5 feet tall. § 13-75 · code text On corner lots, wall and fences in excess of three and a half feet in height shall be set back five feet from the street side property line.

Running a business from home

Costa Mesa code What Costa Mesa's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room of the home. Applies: The room in the home used for the business. § 13-168 · code text No more than one room in the dwelling may be used for the home occupation. Inside the home only. No other building, outdoor space or garage, attached or detached, may be used. Applies: Supplies or equipment may be stored in a garage if this does not reduce the usable parking space. § 13-168 · code text No building, space outside of the main building, or garage, attached or detached, shall be used for the home occupation.
Customer visits	No more than 1 customer or client at a time. Applies: Home businesses with customer traffic, which need a minor conditional use permit. § 13-164 · code text Home occupations that generate customer traffic and do not involve more than one customer/client at a time and no more than eight customers/clients per day require the approval of a minor conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter III, Planning Applications. No more than 8 customers or clients per day. Applies: Home businesses with customer traffic, which need a minor conditional use permit. § 13-164 · code text Home occupations that generate customer traffic and do not involve more than one customer/client at a time and no more than eight customers/clients per day require the approval of a minor conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter III, Planning Applications. No more foot or car traffic than is normal for the neighborhood. § 13-168 · code text The home occupation shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic beyond that normal to the neighborhood where it is located.
Employees	Only permanent residents of the home may work in the business. § 13-168 · code text There shall be no employment of persons other than permanent residents of the premises.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. Applies: Home businesses in any residential zone of the city. § 13-164 · code text No person shall engage in a home occupation, as defined in this Zoning Code, within any residentially zoned area of the city without first applying for and securing a permit. A business license is required, and is issued only after the home occupation permit is approved. § 13-164 · code text No business license shall be issued until a home occupation permit has been approved and issued. A minor conditional use permit is required. Applies: Home businesses with customer traffic of no more than 1 customer at a time and no more than 8 per day. § 13-164 · code text Home occupations that generate customer traffic and do not involve more than one customer/client at a time and no more than eight customers/clients per day require the approval of a minor conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter III, Planning Applications.
Businesses not allowed	direct sale of products, either wholesale or retail, on the premises § 13-168 · code text There shall be no direct sale of products, either wholesale or retail on the premises.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Costa Mesa code What Costa Mesa's code adds
EV charger permit	Approved administratively, with all permits issued, once the application meets the checklist, applicable laws and health and safety standards. Applies: Applies to permit applications that meet the city's adopted checklist. § 5-148 · code text Upon confirmation from the building official that the permit application and supporting documents meet the requirements of the city's adopted checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the building official shall, consistent with Government Code section 65850.7, administratively approve the application and issue all necessary permits. You may submit permit applications and supporting documents electronically. § 5-148 · code text Consistent with Government Code section 65850.7, the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications and associated supporting documentation.
Solar permit process	Administrative, nondiscretionary review; a permit is issued if the application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 5-143 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan, the building department shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit within three business days. Only 1 inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 5-143 · code text Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the building department for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.
Review time	The permit is issued within 3 business days. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar, when the application meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 5-143 · code text For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan, the building department shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit within three business days.

Swimming pools

Costa Mesa code What Costa Mesa's code adds
Maintenance and empty pools	The pool must be drained immediately and may not be refilled until the fence complies. Applies: Applies when the pool's enclosure fence does not meet the code. § 5-68 · code text Any swimming pool enclosed by a fence which fence does not meet the requirements of this chapter shall be drained immediately and shall not be refilled until such time as the enclosure fence is brought into compliance with all of the provisions of this chapter.

Pets, chickens and bees

Costa Mesa code What Costa Mesa's code adds
Bees	Yes; at most 2 production hives, plus temporary expansion hives as needed to manage swarming. Applies: Applies to residential properties with a residential beekeeping permit. § 3-18.4 · code text A maximum of two production hives are permitted, with additional temporary expansion hives allowed as needed to manage swarming. At least 15 feet from lot lines and 25 feet from neighboring homes; otherwise, a 6-foot solid barrier is required. Applies: Applies to beehives; the code says hives should meet these distances. § 3-18.4 · code text Beehives should be located at least 15 feet from any property line and 25 feet from neighboring residential buildings unless measured as described in subsection (c)(1)(b) below are met.
Permit	A residential beekeeping permit from the police department's animal services unit is required. Applies: Applies to all domesticated hives. § 3-18.4 · code text A residential beekeeping permit is required for all domesticated hives.

Other Costa Mesa rules on this

Costa Mesa's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Accessory buildings and structures (§ 13-33)
Urban lot split (SB 9) (§ 13-265.5)
Two-unit housing development (SB 9) (§ 13-36)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Costa Mesa?

On corner lots, fences over 3½ feet must be 5 feet from the street side line; in a visibility triangle, 2½ feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Costa Mesa?

Costa Mesa regulates accessory buildings and structures in Section 13-33 of its code. Costa Mesa also has a related rule: Accessory buildings and structures (§ 13-33).

Can I run a business from my home in Costa Mesa?

A home business needs a permit and business license, is limited to one room inside the home, and only permanent residents may work there.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Costa Mesa?

Costa Mesa's code: Approved administratively, with all permits issued, once the application meets the checklist, applicable laws and health and safety standards. (Applies to permit applications that meet the city's adopted checklist.) (§ 5-148); You may submit permit applications and supporting documents electronically. (§ 5-148).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Costa Mesa?

Costa Mesa's code: The pool must be drained immediately and may not be refilled until the fence complies. (Applies when the pool's enclosure fence does not meet the code.) (§ 5-68).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Costa Mesa?

Costa Mesa's code: Yes; at most 2 production hives, plus temporary expansion hives as needed to manage swarming. (Applies to residential properties with a residential beekeeping permit.) (§ 3-18.4); At least 15 feet from lot lines and 25 feet from neighboring homes; otherwise, a 6-foot solid barrier is required. (Applies to beehives; the code says hives should meet these distances.) (§ 3-18.4).

General information, not legal advice.

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