Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Costa Mesa, CA (2026)
2 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Costa Mesa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Obstruction Rules
Costa Mesa bans obstructing any street or sidewalk without a street superintendent's permit. Merchants may block up to half a sidewalk's width for merchandise loading, but only for two hours a day; wider or longer blockage, plus stored goods, debris or building extensions over public property, is a separate violation under a companion section.
Costa Mesa Sidewalk Obstruction Rules
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 15-3
It is unlawful to obstruct the free passage or use of any portion of any roadway, street or sidewalk without first obtaining a permit to do so from the street superintendent; providing that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent the obstruction of one-half the width of any sidewalk not exceeding two hours in any one day for the receipt of or delivery of merchandise.
Encroachment Permits
Any private improvement placed in, over or under a Costa Mesa public right-of-way without a current encroachment permit is a declared public nuisance subject to summary abatement. The public services director reviews applications, can grant, deny or condition them, and can order removal within 30 days when the city needs the right-of-way back.
Costa Mesa Right-of-Way Encroachment Permits
Significant RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 15-13(a)
Any encroachment of private improvements in, upon, over or under a public right-of-way or other public property without a current, valid encroachment permit as provided for in this chapter shall constitute a public nuisance and shall be subject to summary abatement, pursuant to section 38773 of the California Government Code, and the expense of such abatement shall be a personal obligation of t...
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