Parking Rules in Costa Mesa, CA (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Costa Mesa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Costa Mesa treats outdoor RV, boat and trailer storage in residential zones as unlawful by default under Municipal Code Section 20-8 and Table 20-8(c), unless the vehicle sits fully enclosed inside a building, on a driveway connecting to a garage, on an alley-accessible parking pad, or on a paved area screened by a 6-foot solid fence outside the street setback.
Costa Mesa RV, Boat & Trailer Storage Rules
Significant RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 20-8(b) & Table 20-8(c)
It is unlawful for any responsible person having charge or possession of any real property in the city to... (b) Keep, store, or maintain upon any premises under his/her control any vehicle or recreational vehicle, except as permitted by Table 20-8(c)... 4. Other residential storage options. Stored or parked on a paved area that meets the following criteria: a. A screened paved surface that is ...
Driveway Rules
Costa Mesa bars parking or storing any vehicle or recreational vehicle on an unpaved surface anywhere on residential or nonresidential property. Table 20-8(c) only allows outdoor storage on a paved, screened area set back from the street, or on a paved driveway or alley-accessed parking space.
Costa Mesa Unpaved Vehicle Storage Ban
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 20-8(b), Table 20-8(c)
(b) Keep, store, or maintain upon any premises under his/her control any vehicle or recreational vehicle, except as permitted by Table 20-8(c)... 4. Other residential storage options. Stored or parked on a paved area that meets the following criteria: a. A screened paved surface that is not within the required building setback area abutting a public street excluding alleys; and, b. The screenin...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Costa Mesa restricts commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross weight to designated truck routes and caps street parking at three hours under Municipal Code Section 10-185. Those trucks are also barred from restricted streets between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and police can cite or tow violators using the same removal authority used for abandoned vehicles.
Costa Mesa Commercial Vehicle Parking Limits
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 10-185(f)-(h)
(f) No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any commercial vehicle exceeding a manufacturers gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds, shall park or leave standing any such commercial vehicle on a street or highway which is prohibited to commercial vehicle traffic pursuant to section 10-248 of this Code. (g) No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any commer...
Street Parking Limits
Costa Mesa enforces street parking time limits and offers a Residential Permit Parking Program in designated neighborhoods. Oversized vehicles are not eligible for residential permits. Standard time limits and posted restrictions apply citywide.
Costa Mesa Street Parking Regulations
Some RestrictionsCal. Veh. Code § 22651
22651. A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which th...
Overnight Parking
Costa Mesa bars sleeping in a parked motor vehicle anywhere in the city other than private residential property between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under Municipal Code Section 10-194, and separately bans living or dwelling in any vehicle parked on a public street, sidewalk, alley or right-of-way at any time, with an exception for licensed trailer courts and campsites.
Costa Mesa Overnight Vehicle Sleeping Ban
Significant RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 10-194
It is unlawful for any person to sleep in or on any motor vehicle parked any place in the city, other than upon private residential property, at any time between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or to dwell and/or live in or on any motor vehicle parked upon any city owned, operated, or maintained street, sidewalk, alley, public right-of-way, or any other public property or any private prop...
EV Charging
Costa Mesa follows California's streamlined permitting for home EV charger installations under AB 1236. Level 1 and Level 2 chargers can be installed at residential properties with a standard electrical permit. The city supports EV infrastructure expansion.
Costa Mesa EV Charging & Home Charger Rules
Some RestrictionsCal. Gov. Code § 65850.7 (AB 1236, 2015)
Existing law, the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Open Access Act, prohibits the charging of a subscription fee on persons desiring to use an electric vehicle charging station, as defined, and prohibits a requirement for persons to obtain membership in any club, association, or organization as a condition of using the station, except as specified.
Abandoned Vehicles
Costa Mesa defines abandoned vehicles as those left on public streets for more than 72 hours without being moved or those that are inoperable. The city proactively tags and removes abandoned vehicles through Costa Mesa Police and Code Enforcement.
Costa Mesa Abandoned Vehicle Enforcement
Significant RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code §22651(j)–(k) — Removal of Parked & Abandoned Vehicles
(j) If a vehicle is found illegally parked and there are no license plates or other evidence of registration displayed, the vehicle may be impounded until the owner or person in control of the vehicle furnishes the impounding law enforcement agency evidence of their identity and an address within this state where they can be located. (k) If a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a highway fo...
Curb Color Rules
Costa Mesa bars anyone but the city from painting a street or curb surface under Municipal Code Section 10-90. The transportation services manager alone assigns red, yellow and white curb colors citywide; a resident or business that paints its own curb, even to keep a driveway clear, violates the section unless a separate city resolution specifically authorizes the painting.
Costa Mesa Unauthorized Curb Painting Ban
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 10-90
No person, unless authorized by the city, shall paint any street or curb surface; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the painting of numbers on a curb surface by any person who has complied with the provisions of any resolution or ordinance of the city pertaining thereto.
Loading Zones
Costa Mesa marks commercial loading zones yellow and passenger loading zones white under Municipal Code Section 10-226, limiting yellow-curb stops to 20 minutes for materials or 3 minutes for passengers, and white-curb stops to 3 minutes, both enforced between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on days other than Sundays and holidays.
Costa Mesa Loading Zone Time Limits
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 10-226(b)-(c)
(b) Yellow shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or materials, provided that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than three minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than 20 minutes. (c) White shall mean...
Preferential Parking Districts
Costa Mesa creates residential permit parking zones under Article 3 of Municipal Code Chapter X, where posted streets bar unpermitted vehicles and only residents of that zone, capped at four permits per dwelling unit plus up to 100 annual guest passes, may obtain a permit through the public works department.
Costa Mesa Residential Parking Permit Districts
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code §§ 10-221, 10-221.1, 10-221.2(a)(3)
When authorized signs have been posted pursuant to resolution of the city council and are in place giving notice of restrictions, it is unlawful and an infraction for any person to park any vehicle on any public street or alley so restricted, unless a parking permit therefor has been issued by the city as provided for in this article... Except for emergency permits and as otherwise provided for...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Costa Mesa city rules.
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