Short-term rental permit rules in Costa Mesa, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Costa Mesa prohibits all short-term rentals throughout the city under Ordinance 2021-17 (CMMC Chapter 13). Rentals under 30 days are banned with limited home-sharing exceptions. No STR permits or licenses are issued for residential properties.
Under Ordinance 2021-17, the Costa Mesa City Council prohibited all short-term rentals citywide effective November 2, 2021. CMMC Chapter 13 defines short-term rentals as any rental under 30 days in length. No permits, licenses, or registrations are issued for residential STR operations. The only limited exception is for hosted home sharing where the owner resides in the dwelling during the guest's stay. Accessory Dwelling Units are explicitly subject to a land use restriction prohibiting rentals under 31 days. The city actively enforces the ban through its Community Improvement Division. Code Enforcement investigates complaints and monitors online listing platforms for violations.
Once a violation is verified, the city may issue fines up to $1,000 per day. Additional enforcement includes criminal charges and nuisance abatement action. Each day constitutes a separate violation.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle permit requirements.
See how Costa Mesa's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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