Costa Mesa, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Costa Mesa Municipal Code § 20-6(q)
- Pests named
- Rodents, bed bugs, roaches, lice, fleas, ticks
- Enforcing official
- Development Services Director
- Maximum fine
- $1,000 per day after notice deadline
- Appeal deadline
- 10 calendar days of notice service
- Notice form
- Posted plus certified/registered mail
Summary
Costa Mesa's Municipal Code requires every parcel, including landscaped areas, buildings and structures, to stay free of rodents and vermin such as bed bugs, roaches, lice, fleas and ticks. The Development Services Director enforces the standard under Title 20's property maintenance chapter, and an infestation left uncorrected after a formal notice becomes a public nuisance carrying daily civil fines.
(q) Rodent and vermin control. All property, including landscaped areas, buildings, and structures, shall be maintained free of rodents and other vermin (including but not limited to, bed bugs, roaches, lice, fleas, and ticks).
Full Breakdown
Section 20-6(q) of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code sets a blanket maintenance duty: property must be maintained free of rodents and other vermin, including bed bugs, roaches, lice, fleas and ticks. The duty applies citywide, to occupied homes, rental units, commercial buildings and vacant lots alike, inside Chapter II, Property Maintenance Standards.
The same condition is independently listed as a public nuisance under Section 20-12. Subsection (f)(1) flags dead, decaying or overgrown vegetation 'likely to harbor rats, vermin (including but not limited to bed bugs, roaches, lice, fleas, and ticks)'. Subsection (r)(1) separately lists 'infestation of insects (including but not limited to bed bugs, roaches, lice, fleas, and ticks), rodents, or vermin' under 'inadequate sanitation.' Either finding lets the Development Services Director, defined at Section 20-2, open a nuisance abatement case.
The director may enter the property under Section 20-14 to inspect for the infestation, applying for a court warrant if the owner refuses access. If a violation is confirmed, Section 20-15 requires a written 'NOTICE OF PUBLIC NUISANCE' headed in one-inch letters, describing the infestation and setting a correction deadline; Section 20-16 requires it be posted on the property and mailed by certified or registered mail to the address on the last equalized assessment roll.
Violations & Fines
Once the correction deadline in the notice expires, Section 20-13(a) authorizes a civil fine of up to $1,000, accruing daily until the infestation is abated; fine amounts are set by city council resolution and unpaid balances are collected under Section 1-48. The responsible person may appeal the director's decision to the city council within 10 calendar days of service under Section 20-17, which sets a de novo hearing 10 to 45 days after the appeal is filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Costa Mesa require homeowners to control bed bugs and rodents?
What happens if I ignore a rodent violation notice in Costa Mesa?
Can a city inspector enter my property to check for vermin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Costa Mesa
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