# Sign Regulations in Costa Mesa, California

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Costa Mesa, California, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Costa Mesa, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/costa-mesa
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42617877#42617877)

## At a glance

Costa Mesa, California regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 7 ft. tall and 30 sq. ft. (Sec. Table 13-115). Most commercial signs in Costa Mesa require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones | 10 | 18 ft. high maximum | 64 sq. ft. maximum | — |
| Commercial Zones | 6 | 32 ft. | 230 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial Zones | 1 | 7 ft. | — | — |
| Institutional Zones | 1 | — | 15 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 3 ft. above grade | 5 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 7 ft. | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | 300 ft. separation between freestanding signs on same site. | Must be located in landscaped planter equal to twice the sign area. | — | Table 13-115 |
| Building Wall Sign | — | Total area of all permanent building wall signage may not exceed TOTAL SIGN AREA PER STREET FRONTAGE | — | — | — | Signs may only be attached to a building wall abutting a public street or on-site parking area serving the subject building, unless otherwise approved by the Planning Division. | — | Table 13-115 |
| Construction Sign | 16 ft. high maximum | 64 sq. ft. maximum | — | — | — | — | — | Table 13-115 |
| For Sale Sign | 6 ft. high maximum | 5 sq. ft. maximum | — | — | — | — | — | Table 13-115 |
| Open House Sign | 5 ft. high maximum | 3 sq. ft. maximum | — | — | — | — | — | Table 13-115 |
| Non-Commercial Portable Sign | 6 ft. height above grade | 5 sq. ft. maximum per sign | — | — | — | Signs affixed in the ground. | — | Table 13-115 |
| Apartment Flag | 18 ft. high maximum | 15 sq. ft. maximum | — | — | — | — | — | Table 13-115 |
| Banner on Private Property | — | 0.5 ft. per unit. Maximum area: 100 sq. ft. per site. | — | — | — | The entire surface of the banner must be securely affixed to either a building wall of the business being advertised (the building wall must abut a public street or on-site parking area serving the business being advertised), or to the sign face of a freestanding sign. | — | Table 13-115 |

### Commercial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft. | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 13-115 |
| Freeway-Oriented Freestanding Sign | 32 ft. | 230 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Table 13-115 |
| Building Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 13-115 |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | — | — | Table 13-115 |
| Balloon Sign (less than 24 inches) | — | — | — | — | — | May not extend beyond any property line or over any public-right-of-way, regardless of wind conditions. | — | Table 13-115 |
| Banner on Private Property | — | 0.5 sq. ft. per lineal foot of building frontage facing the street. Minimum entitlement: 25 sq. ft. per tenant. Maximum area: 75 sq. ft. per tenant. | — | — | — | The entire surface of the banner must be securely affixed to either a building wall of the business being advertised (the building wall must abut a public street or on-site parking area serving the business being advertised), or to the sign face of a freestanding sign. | — | Table 13-115 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-Commercial Portable Sign | 3 ft. above grade | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | — | May be placed in any landscaped parkway, except tree wells and within the center median of any street or highway. | — | § 13-123 |
| Commercial Portable Sign | 3 ft. above grade | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | The total number of commercial portable signs per owner or its agent pursuant to this section shall not exceed 10 signs in the city at any one time. | May be placed in any landscaped parkway but not within the center median of any street or highway. | — | § 13-123.5 |

## Prohibited signs in Costa Mesa

- Signs which incorporate any flashing, moving, or intermittent lighting
- Signs which by color, wording, design, location, or illumination resemble, obstruct, or conflict with any traffic-control device or with safe and efficient flow of traffic
- Signs that create a safety hazard by obstructing the clear view of or passage of pedestrian and vehicular traffic
- Banners, flags, and pennants except as authorized in Table 13-115
- Street banners in the public right-of-way, except as authorized by section 13-118
- Signs projecting into or located in the public right-of-way, except governmental signs or other types of signs as authorized by sections 13-123, 13-123.5 and 13-127 or Chapter II of Title 19
- Inflatable signs (and balloons) larger than 24 inches in any dimension
- Portable signs, except as authorized by sections 13-123 and 13-123.5 and Table 13-115
- Mechanical movement
- Signs which project above a parapet or the highest point of the roof
- Signs on public property, except as permitted under sections 13-118.1, 13-118.2, 13-123 and 13-123.5
- Electronic changeable copy signs, except theater marquees and time/temperature signs

## Signs exempt from permit in Costa Mesa

- Flags of any nation or of the State of California
- Governmental signs

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs may be authorized as part of a planned signing program even if they do not conform to all specific regulations contained elsewhere in this chapter.
- A planned signing program shall be processed as a minor conditional use permit in accordance with provisions contained in Chapter III, Planning Applications.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Costa Mesa — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Costa+Mesa+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-costa-mesa

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