Sign Regulations in Costa Mesa, CA (2026)
3 verified sign regulations for Costa Mesa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Costa Mesa lets residents place non-commercial signs, including political and religious ones, in the public right-of-way without a permit under section 13-123, capped at five square feet and three feet tall. Normal weekend-only display windows expand to around-the-clock for the six weeks before any election, with a mandatory removal deadline 10 days after the vote.
Costa Mesa Political Sign Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 13-123
Standards. A non-commercial portable sign may be placed on or within the public right-of-way without a permit, provided it complies with the following requirements: (1) Size and height. The maximum size shall not exceed five square feet and the maximum height shall not be more than three feet above grade. ... (5) Time period. In general, a non-commercial portable sign in the public right-of-way...
Digital Billboards
Costa Mesa prohibits electronic changeable copy signs, the digital-display technology used for LED billboards and reader boards, in every zone in the city. Section 13-112(l) carves out only two exceptions: theater marquees and electronic time/temperature displays. Legacy nonconforming digital signs had to stop showing movement or animation by September 1, 2002.
Costa Mesa Bans Electronic Changeable Signs
Heavy RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 13-112(l)
Electronic changeable copy sign. A sign that uses video displays, lamps, fiber optics, light-emitting diodes (LED's) liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, or any other mechanical or light emitting medium to convey messages, movement, or animation imagery during or between messages. ... The following types of signs are prohibited in all zones: ... (l) Electronic changeable copy signs, except...
Window Signs
Costa Mesa caps permanent window signs at 20 percent of a storefront's contiguous window area and requires a permit under Table 13-115, while non-illuminated temporary window signs also max out at 20 percent but need no permit and must come down within 60 days. Combined permanent and temporary coverage can never exceed 50 percent of the window.
Costa Mesa Window Sign Area Limits
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 13-115 (Table 13-115)
PERMANENT WINDOW SIGNS PERMIT REQUIRED Yes MAXIMUM AREA 1. 20% of contiguous window area maximum. 2. Window sign area in excess of the above maximum may be permitted if it can be shown that the merchandise offered for sale cannot be adequately displayed and, therefore, justifies substitution of additional window signage for merchandise display, subject to written approval by the Planning Divisi...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Costa Mesa city rules.
Sign Regulations in Orange County →