Costa Mesa, CA Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

20) governs block parties, defined as festive gatherings on a residential street that require closing the street, or part of it, to vehicular traffic. An applicant must be a Costa Mesa resident who is 18 or older and either owns or leases property on the block where the party will be held. 15 restricts block parties to dates the city council designates by separate resolution, so organizers cannot pick an arbitrary weekend; the city manager only issues permits within that approved calendar. 16, holding a block party without a valid permit is unlawful, and the city manager administers the permit program.

17, must be signed under penalty of perjury and must show that all affected property owners or lessees on the closed portion of the street consent to the event; it is due at least 12 business days before the requested date. 18 lets the city manager write additional conduct regulations that must be handed to every applicant along with the application. 19 conditions the permit on a liability insurance policy naming the City of Costa Mesa and its officers, agents and employees as additional insureds, with combined single limits of no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and in the aggregate, plus a signed indemnity agreement in a form the city attorney approves, obligating the applicant to defend and hold the city harmless for claims arising from the event.