City Council Meeting
November 4, 2025
Of the California Construction Codes
The Adoption of the 2025 Edition
2 • California Building Standards Commission adopts and publishes the California Building Standards Codes (Title 24 CCR) every three years. • Local governments must adopt the 2025 California Building Codes, which become effective and applicable as of January 1, 2026. • Cities may adopt the 2025 California Construction Codes by reference, along with any necessary local amendments supported by findings that address the community’s unique climatic, geographical, & topographical conditions.
Background
3 California Building Standards Code &
Reference Model Code
The 2025 California Building Standard Codes is derived
from nationally recognized model codes listed in the
next slide.
4 California Building Standard Code
2025 California Building Code
2025 California Residential Code
2025 California Fire Code
2025 California Existing Building Code
2025 California Plumbing Code
2025 California Mechanical Code
2025 California Electrical Code
2025 California Energy Code
2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code
2025 California Green Building Standards
Reference National Model Code
2024 International Building Code (ICC)
2024 International Residential Code (ICC)
2024 International Fire Code (ICC)
2024 International Existing Building Code (ICC)
2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (IAPMO)
2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (IAPMO)
2023 National Electric Code (NFPA)
2024 International Energy Code
2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code (ICC)
5 Amendments to the Building Codes
Staff is recommending the following changes and modifications to the 2025 Codes :
• 2025 California Building Code (CBC)
Fencing not to exceed 6 feet (Section 105.2)
Minimum roof covering classification to be Class B (Table 1505.1) Prescriptive foundation wall design shall not be used in structures assigned to Seismic Design Category D, E or F. (Section 1807.1.6)
• 2025 California Residential Code (CRC)
Fencing not to exceed 6 feet (Section R105.2)
Minimum roof covering classification to be Class B (Section R902.1)
These amendments and changes are necessary due to local climatic, geographic & topographic conditions in Costa Mesa.
6 Amendments to the Fire Code
Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue recommends adopting local modifications to the 2025 California Fire Code in the following three categories:
• Administrative Amendments
(CMFR as the AHJ and Digital Submittal/Documentation) • Readopted Local Amendments
(Red Flag Triggers, Sky Lantern Ban, Commercial ESS Emergency Stops, Fireworks Regulations, Mobile Fueling Restrictions, and ERRCS updates
• New Amendment
Modified CFC 1207.11.5.1 to require an emergency ESS disconnect within 36 in. of the main electrical service in residential occupancies, aligning with the previously adopted commercial requirement.
7 Ordinance Adoption By City Council
The City of Costa Mesa Municipal Code is hereby amended to revise Chapter I, Title 5, for the following sections:
• Section 5-1 (Adopted Construction Codes)
• Section 5-1.1 (Amendments to 2025 California Building Code) • Section 5-1.3 (Amendments to 2025 California Residential Code) The City of Costa Mesa Municipal Code is hereby amended to revise Chapter II, Title 7.
8 Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1) To adopt Resolution 2025 – xx setting forth findings with respect to climatic, geographic, & topographic
conditions.
2) To introduce Ordinance 2025 – xx for the first reading and set for second reading on November 18, 2025.
City Council Meeting
November 4, 2025
Plan Consistency with Housing Element
Land Use Element Amendment For General
2 • One of seven State-mandated General Plan
“Elements”
• State law requires Housing Element to be
updated every eight years (“cycle”)
• February 1, 2022
o City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-06
o Adopted the City’s Sixth Cycle (2021-2029)
Housing Element and Mitigated Negative
Declaration
• April 5, 2022
o California Department of Housing and
Community Development (HCD) provided
revision letter on the Housing Element
Background: Sixth Cycle (2021-2029) Housing
Element
3 • November 8, 2022
o Costa Mesa voters approved Measure K
o Authorizes modification of City regulations:
Allow housing in commercial and industrial areas
Revitalize the City’s commercial and industrial corridors Keep residential neighborhoods intact
• November 18, 2022
o Ordinance No. 2022-09 effective
o Add Costa Mesa Municipal Code Section 13-200.106 (g):
Allows changes to land use, zoning, specific plan, overlay, or adoption of a new specific plan or overlay
Accommodate housing, mixed-use, and/or revitalization of commercial areas Background: Measure K
4 • November 15, 2022
o Resolution No. 2022-67 adopted by City Council
o Approve additional amendments to the Housing Element
• January 20, 2023
o HCD Revision Letter
• March 1, 2023
o Minor and non-substantive revisions to Housing Element • May 9, 2023
o HCD letter notes Costa Mesa Housing Element meets State requirements o Costa Mesa Housing Element is not in substantial compliance (i.e. not certified) Background: Housing Element Adoption
5 General Plan Consistency Finding & Nunc Pro
Tunc (Latin: Now for Then)
• General Plan Element is amended or updated
o Internally consistent pursuant to Government Code Section 65300.5 • City review of record
o Finding was not made with Housing Element
o Land Use Element is not internally consistent
• Make necessary corrections and reconcile inconsistency • For internal consistency
o Ensure the 97 housing opportunity sites allow residential use at specified densities o Other considerations:
Cannot limit or restrict the residential site capacity Flexibility regarding floor area ratio (FAR), trip generation, or height • Housing Element process and outreach
o Public Engagement (Townhall, Outreach, Study Sessions) o Tribal Consultation
o Public Hearings (Planning Commission and City Council) 6 Land Use Element Amendments
• Excerpts of updates:
o Table LU-3: Land Use Designations (2015)
o Footnote added to Land Use Designations for Residential and Non-Residential:
“* “Residential density may exceed those identified within Table LU-3 to accommodate the density of sites identified as housing opportunity sites within the sites inventory of the Housing Element.”
o Figure LU-4:
Add clarifying text
Remove residential
prohibition
7 Planning Commission Recommendation
• October 13, 2025
o Received presentation of draft
Land Use Element amendment
o Deliberations on Measure K and
Housing Element Sites
o Recommended City Council
adoption with minor update:
Figure LU-4 and Figure LU-6:
Remove phrase “reductions”
and replace with
“modifications”
8 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Environmental Determination
• Additional analysis is not required pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 (no new information).
• Adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) analyzed housing opportunity sites.
• MMRP requires mitigation for:
o Hazards and hazardous materials
o Biological resources
o Cultural resources
o Noise
o Tribal cultural resources
o Includes standard conditions
9 Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-XX to adopt the amendments to the Land Use Element of the City’s General Plan to provide consistency with the Sixth Cycle Housing Element and associated California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental determination (Attachment 1).
City Council Meeting
November 4, 2025
Consideration of An Ordinance
to Require Staffing at Self-
Service Checkout Stations
2 Background
• Council directed staff on March 18, 2025, to review potential development of an ordinance establishing staffing and operations standards for self- checkout at grocery retail stores.
• Long Beach City Council adopted an ordinance on August 12, 2025, to mandate staffing requirements at grocery and drug retail stores. • Costa Mesa staff conducted a preliminary analysis of the City of Long Beach ordinance and impacts of implementing a similar measure in Costa Mesa.
3 Long Beach Ordinance
• Intended to reduce retail theft and protect employees. • Applies to food retail establishments over 15,000 square feet or over 85,000 with ten percent of floor area dedicated to produce or other foods. • Applies to all drug retail establishments.
• Requires dedicated staffing of one employee per three stations (1:3). • Limits self-checkout to 15 items or less.
4 Long Beach Enforcement & Penalties
• Ordinance does not specify enforcement by any city department. • Provides for civil action by employees or customers.
• Penalties
$100 per Violation Increasing by $100 Per Day ($1,000 max per employee)
Plus Attorney’s Fees and Costs
5 Media Reports
6 Costa Mesa Stores
7 Issues for Consideration
Square footage thresholds in Long Beach Ordinance have created confusion and may not apply to Costa Mesa stores.
Retail theft incidents have decreased in grocery stores, but increased in drug retail stores by seven incidents from 2024 to 2025. Enforcement questions may arise for city staff to address. Penalties with no maximum limit may lead to stores closing self-checkout stations to avoid inadvertent failures due to staffing issues. 8 Conclusion
The City Council may:
1. Receive and file the staff report.
2. Direct staff to further explore a draft ordinance working with the City Attorney for consideration by the City Council at a later date.
1 Community Visioning Update
Costa Mesa City Council Meeting
November 4, 2025
2 • Adopted by City Council in 2022
• State mandated chapter (element) of
the City’s General Plan
• Updated every 8 years (cycle)
• Studies housing conditions
• Establishes programs to address
h
ousing (like identifying sites to
a
ccommodate City’s RHNA)
• City is required to implement the
programs (like rezoning sites and
updating zoning code)
• Ballot measure approved by Costa
M
esa voters in 2022
• Authorizes City to update zoning
regulations to allow housing
in
c
ommercial and industrial areas
• Creates new opportunities while
preserving existing neighborhoods
• Community visioning is required prior
to rezoning
Project Overview
3 Housing
Development
Opportunities
Zoning Code
Amendments
Its objective is to implement the Housing Element:
• Rezone sites to allow
h
ousing development
• Sites are identified in
H
ousing Element and
Measure K
• Prioritizes housing
ne
ar jobs and
amenities, while
preserving existing
neighborhoods
• Update the zoning
c
ode to comply with
state housing laws
• Streamline permitting
f
or new housing
projects
• Prepare objective
de
sign standards for
multifamily and
mixed-use
developments
1 2
Map of sites to be rezoned:
4 • Envision with the community to inform the effort
• Inform the public about the effort
• Create multiple opportunities for participation
• Satisfy Measure K and Housing Element requirements
• Foster hope for the future
OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT
Community visioning through
5 COMMUNITY VISIONING
Overview of Round 1
CITYWIDE
OPEN HOUSE
Jul 2025
COMMUNITY
WORKSHOPS
Aug-Sep 2025
Newport & Harbor Blvd
Westside Walking Tour
North Costa Mesa & SoBECA
FOCUSED
DISCUSSIONS
Sep-Oct 2025
Newport & Harbor Blvd
Westside
North Costa Mesa & SoBECA
POP-UP
EVENTS
Aug-Oct 2025
ONLINE
SURVEY
Sep-Oct 2025
12 Multi-layered to offer various opportunities, locations, and formats to hear from a variety of voices. 6 • Social media (Facebook, Instagram, X)
• City Council announcements
• www.CostaMesaNeighborhoods.com
• Press release
Several methods of notification were used to raise awareness of the effort, share information, and invite Costa Mesans to participate in the visioning process:
51,061 HOUSEHOLDS received
a city-wide postcard invitation
228,600 VIEWS of social
media posts
10,000+ EMAIL RECIPIENTS of
City Hall Snapshot
206 UNIQUE SIGN-UPS to
project website interest list
2,700 UNIQUE VIEWS
of project website
10,000+ RECIPIENTS of
Citywide eblasts and press
releases
GETTING THE WORD OUT
ROUND 1
• Direct email blasts
• City Hall Snapshot
• Citywide postcard mailer
• Partner emails
7 1 CITYWIDE
OPEN HOUSE
Neighborhoods Where We All Belong was
kicked off at a Citywide Open House on
Wednesday, July 30 at the Norma Hertzog
Community Center.
• Over 77 community members participated
• 7 informational boards and 3 visioning
a
ctivities were provided
147 Sticky Note
Comments
280 Prioritization
Response Dots
8 3 COMMUNITY
WORKSHOPS
Three Community Workshops were subsequently held:
• Newport & Harbor Blvd, Thursday, August 21st
• Westside, Saturday, August 23rd
• North Costa Mesa & SoBECA, Wednesday, September 10th
• Over 129 community members participated in various
a
ctivities that were specific to each focus area
65 Sticky Note
Comments
207 Prioritization
Response Dots
135 Map Flags
21 Worksheet
Activity Responses
9 Focused Discussions held:
• North Costa Mesa & SoBECA, Thursday, September 18th
• Westside, Thursday, September 18th
• Newport & Harbor Blvd, Friday, October 3rd
3 FOCUSED
DISCUSSIONS
Representatives from community organizations, as well
as local developers and property owners participated.
10 12 POP-UPS
Meet people where they are! City staff
reached out to the community at
coffee shops, a brewery, and special
events
1 ONLINE SURVEY
Priorities for good neighborhoods
Designing multistory housing
Vision for future new housing
250 surveys taken in 2.5 weeks!
11 WHAT WE HEARD
ROUND 1
354 Sticky Note
Comments
460 Prioritization
Response Dots
WHO WAS INVOLVED? HOW MANY RESPONSES?
135 Identified
Locations on
Community Maps
21 Walking Tour and Design
Worksheet Activity Responses
Over 545
Participants
342 Online
Prioritization
Responses
Many voices were heard. Costa Mesa residents, property owners, representatives from local organizations, and members of the local business community shared their perspectives. A snapshot of the number of participants and contributions is shown below.
12 WHAT WE HEARD
ROUND 1
Early analysis has identified some key themes. Other themes may arise as well. • Affordable housing options and a variety of development types; • Multi-modal transportation options with improved walkability and safer streets;
• Open spaces and landscaped pathways within residential developments connecting to other uses;
• Public and private spaces for community gathering and culture; • Eclectic character so Costa Mesa continues to feel unique from other cities; and
• Transparency to ensure the public has more technical information. 13 NEXT STEPS
• Round 1 to inform Round 2
• Community input received to inform draft
regulations for how housing should be
designed and developed
• CEQA
• Initial Study & Notice of Preparation
• Zoning Amendments
• Addressing existing urban plans and overlays
• Draft residential/mixed-use regulations
• Draft of other Zoning Code amendments
• Draft new objective design standards
• Round 2 of Community Visioning
• More events in February 2026
14 Questions?
For more information, visit:
www.CostaMesaNeighborhoods.com
Thank you!