Costa Mesa Municipal Code Ch. III Drainage

The city has adopted and now has in effect a Storm Drain System Master Plan, which has been, after notice and public hearing, revised from time to time and which was adopted pursuant to California Government Code Title 7, Chapter 3, Article 8, section 65450 et seq., The official copy of the current Storm Drain System Master Plan is on file in the office of the city engineer at 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California, and any reference in this chapter to the Storm Drain System Master Plan shall be to the reports, maps, plats, plans, specifications and other materials constituting said Storm Drain System Master Plan as on file at the above address. The terms of this chapter shall apply to all of the drainage facilities now in place within the city, as well as drainage facilities described and set forth in the Storm Drain System Master Plan and as may be required periodically by the city engineer.

(Ord. No. 06-19, § 2, 9-5-06; Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

Development of, or construction on, property within the city will require construction of additional drainage facilities, as set forth in the Storm Drain System Master Plan and its Storm Drainage Impact Fee Nexus Study report and/or as may be identified periodically by resolution of the city council or as may be imposed as a condition of development approval by the city engineer. Drainage fees are hereby established for the Newport Bay Watershed and the Santa Ana Watershed. Drainage fees for the Newport Bay Watershed and the Santa Ana Watershed are to be set periodically by resolution of the city council, which fees shall be tiered to take into account the intensity of development proposed for the property. The fee tiers shall be as follows: low-density residential; medium-density residential; high-density residential; and commercial/industrial. The drainage fees for each drainage shed shall be imposed on a pro rata, per acre basis upon any parcel or other piece of property for which an owner, developer or other applicant has requested approval to develop or redevelop, or to construct or reconstruct any structure upon such property pursuant to section 15-71, prior to, and as a condition of approval being granted for such development or construction.

(Ord. No. 06-19, § 2, 9-5-06; Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

The funds collected hereunder shall be deposited in two separate funds which shall be known as the "Santa Ana Watershed Drainage Fund" and the "Newport Bay Watershed Drainage Fund." In the case of land development subject to the Subdivision Map Act[1], the drainage fee for the appropriate watershed, as defined in the adopted Storm Drain System Master Plan and its Storm Drainage Impact Fee Nexus Study, shall be collected, deposited and expended in accordance with California Government Code, sections 66483 through 66483.2, in addition to the provisions set forth below, and all other applicable laws of the state. In the case of any development, redevelopment, construction, or reconstruction not subject to the Subdivision Map Act, the drainage fee for the appropriate watershed shall be collected, deposited and expended in accordance with California Government Code sections 66000 through 66008, in addition to the provisions set forth below, and all other applicable laws of the state.

(Ord. No. 06-19, § 2, 9-5-06; Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

[1]

Editor's Note: See Government Code section 66410 et seq.

(a) Whenever a development is planned in a location where the Storm Drain System Master Plan or condition of approval calls for a storm drain and the applicant or developer is required to construct the storm drain upon a public right-of-way or on private property to be dedicated as a public right-of-way, the applicant or developer shall be required to post appropriate bonds to cover the estimated construction cost of the storm drain and submit copies of bid prices to the city engineer prior to construction. Any and all such bonds shall be exonerated upon acceptance of construction by the city engineer.

(b) If the city engineer determines that additional drainage facilities are required in order to adequately provide for drainage, the city engineer may require, as a condition of approval, the construction of those facilities for the detention of stormwater or such other means as may be necessary to provide adequate drainage of a particular property without adversely affecting adjacent properties or the city's drainage system.

(c) Notwithstanding anything provided in this section 15-67 or elsewhere in this chapter III, any construction of drainage facilities required to be constructed prior to issuance of development approval shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, imposition of the drainage fee applicable to that property. Facilities included in the Storm Drain System Master Plan may be eligible for credit and/or reimbursement pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. No. 06-19, § 2, 9-5-06; Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

If a building permit expires without commencement of construction or a subdivision or parcel map is abandoned prior to final approval, then the applicant or developer shall be entitled to a refund, without interest, of the impact fee paid as a condition for its issuance, except that the city may retain the actual administrative costs incurred on behalf of said applicant or developer, in accordance with California Government Code section 66014. The fee payer must submit a written request for a refund to the city engineer within 30 calendar days of the expiration of the permit. Failure to submit the required application for refund in a timely manner shall constitute a waiver of any right to the refund.

(Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

The money obtained through payment of drainage fees as provided for in this chapter may be used by the city to defray the cost of constructing storm drains and related facilities as identified in the Storm Drain System Master Plan. The city may incur indebtedness for the construction of any drainage facility and utilize either of the drainage fee funds for repayment.

(Ord. No. 06-19, § 2, 9-5-06; Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

Subject to the provisions of California Government Code, Section 66013, applicants requesting connection with existing drainage facilities shall be required to pay the drainage fee as provided for in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 06-19, § 2, 9-5-06; Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

(a) Drainage fees shall be imposed in the following cases:

(1) For low density residential uses, any improvement, addition or major alteration to an existing structure or construction of an accessory structure, in any form, where the aggregate gross impervious percentage of the parcel as a result of such improvement exceeds 50% of the gross acreage of the parcel is subject to a drainage fee for the exceeding impervious acreage. The applicable drainage fee shall be calculated pursuant to the following formula:

Fee = (Impervious area exceeding 50% of the gross parcel acreage) X (Fee per Impervious Acre)

(2) For medium density residential uses, any improvement, addition or major alteration to an existing structure or construction of an accessory structure, in any form, where the aggregate gross impervious percentage of the parcel as a result of such improvement exceeds 70% of the gross acreage of the parcel is subject to a drainage fee for the exceeding impervious acreage. The applicable drainage fee shall be calculated pursuant to the following formula.

Fee = (Impervious area exceeding 70% of the gross parcel acreage) X (Fee per Impervious Acre)

(3) For high density residential uses, any improvement, addition or major alteration to an existing structure or construction of an accessory structure, in any form, where the aggregate gross impervious percentage of the parcel as a result of such improvement exceeds 80% of the gross acreage of the parcel is subject to a drainage fee for the exceeding impervious acreage. The applicable drainage fee shall be calculated pursuant to the following formula.

Fee = (Impervious area exceeding 80% of the gross parcel acreage) X (Fee per Impervious Acre)

(4) For commercial and industrial uses, any improvement, addition or major alteration to an existing structure or construction of an accessory structure, in any form, where the aggregate gross impervious percentage of the parcel as a result of such improvement exceeds 90% of the gross acreage of the parcel is subject to a drainage fee for the exceeding impervious acreage. The applicable drainage fee shall be calculated pursuant to the following formula.

Fee = (Impervious area exceeding 90% of the gross parcel acreage) X (Fee per Impervious Acre)

(5) For development of vacant land, any improvement or construction is subject to a drainage fee. The applicable drainage fee shall be calculated pursuant to the following formula.

Fee = (Gross Parcel Acreage) X (Land Use Impervious Factor) X (Fee per Impervious Acre)

(6) For land use changes, where the impervious factor for the future land uses as identified in the Storm Drain System Master Plan is greater than the impervious factor of the existing land use as identified in the Storm Drain System Master Plan.

Fee = (Drainage Fee per Acre of Future Land Use - Drainage Fee per Acre of Existing Land Use) X (Gross Property Acreage)

(b) Drainage fees shall not be imposed in the following cases:

(1) For accessory dwelling units (ADUs) less than 750 square feet.

(2) For reconstruction of existing structures in the event of a disaster where the reconstruction does not increase the impervious area of the parcel.

(3) For land use changes where the impervious coefficient for the future land use as identified in the Storm Drain System Master Plan is less than the impervious coefficient of the existing land use.

(Ord. No. 06-19, § 2, 9-5-06; Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

Subject to the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act or California Government Code sections 66000 through 66007, as applicable, a drainage fee paid in accordance with this chapter shall be deposited in the appropriate watershed drainage fund prior to the approval of the final tract or parcel map in the case of recorded map developments and at the issuance of a building permit in all other instances, except for residential developments expressly permitted by Government Code Section 66007 to defer payment of such fees until issuance of a certificate of occupancy or final inspection, whichever first occurs.

(Ord. No. 06-19, § 2, 9-5-06; Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

Fees provided for, and the expenditures to be made from, the Drainage Fee Fund are to be applicable to those facilities as provided for in the Storm Drain System Master Plan. Drainage facilities necessary within any development by reason of requirements of the city or the California Building Code shall be at the sole expense of the developer, and funds obtained as provided for in this chapter shall not be expended therefore.

(Ord. No. 06-19, § 2, 9-5-06; Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

(a) Whenever the conditions of approval of a development project require direct construction of a public storm drainage facility (see section 15-67) described or listed in the Storm Drain System Master Plan, a credit or reimbursement, as applicable, shall be given against the development impact fee, which would have been charged to the development project under the program, for actual construction costs incurred by the developer, up to the cost included in the Storm Drain System Master Plan. The reimbursement and/or credit amount shall not include any improvements the city can require from the development project under the Subdivision Map Act, or the portion of the improvement deemed to be an on-site improvement that is not included in the Storm Drain System Master Plan.

(b) A developer may be allowed a reduction in fees from the drainage fee requirements of this chapter if the developer enters into a development agreement with the city pursuant to which drainage fees are assessed to the developer, or equivalent or comparable improvements are constructed and implemented by the developer.

(c) A developer may be allowed a reduction of fees from the drainage fee requirements of this chapter provided they are able to demonstrate a substantial showing of evidence of increased site permeability, using low impact design features such as permeable surfaces, bioswales, or other stormwater infiltration features, that will reduce stormwater runoff and impacts to the city's existing drainage system.

(d) Developer requests for a reduction of the drainage fee may be submitted through the permit application process and shall include a description of the low impact design features, an analysis to justify a reduced impervious coefficient for the developed site, and any other evidence that supports the request for a reduction of the drainage fee. A review of the request shall be completed within 60 calendar days after submittal by the applicant. The public works director shall have authority to review, comment, adjust, and/or approve qualifying requests for a reduction of the storm drainage impact fee. The developer may appeal the public works director's decision to the city council pursuant to section 15-75 Appeals.

(e) No refund or payment shall be due to an applicant in the event that the impervious coefficient for the future land use as identified in the Storm Drain System Master Plan is less than the impervious coefficient of the existing land use.

(f) State law. The City will comply with any fee reduction or fee adjustment requirements imposed by state law.

(Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)

(a) A developer subject to the drainage fees required by this chapter for a particular project may apply to the city council for: (1) a fee adjustment based upon a showing of substantial evidence of a lesser impact upon the level of service; or (2) a land use category adjustment based upon a showing of substantial evidence that another land use category is more appropriate for a particular development. The written appeal and the applicable appeal fee must be filed with the city clerk's office, prior to the issuance of building permit. The city council shall establish the appeal fee by resolution. The appeal shall state in detail the factual basis for the request for adjustment.

(b) The city council shall consider the appeal at a public meeting to be held within 60 calendar days after the appeal application has been filed. The decision of the city council shall be final. The decision of the city council shall be in writing and shall be mailed to the applicant.

(c) If an adjustment is granted pursuant to this section, any subsequent change or intensification of the use or uses of the property or any expansion of the structures on the property, shall invalidate the adjustment, and the applicant shall be subject to the development impact fee requirement applicable to the entire development based on the fee in effect at the time of the change or expansion, less any amount previously paid.

(d) If an adjustment is not granted pursuant to this section, then upon the payment of the required fees, the city shall provide the applicant a written notice of the amount of the fees or a description of the dedications, reservations, or other exactions, and shall also provide notification that the 90-day protest period has begun, pursuant to Government Code section 66020.

(Ord. No. 2026-05, 5/5/2026)