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Costa Mesa · Building on your lot

Noise and construction hours in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa's own rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Costa Mesa's code says

Costa Mesa code What Costa Mesa's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays
  • 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
    Applies: Mondays to Fridays. All required permits must be obtained. Emergency work is exempt. The director may grant a temporary waiver.
    § 13-279 · code text
    7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. | Mondays through Fridays
Construction hours on weekends and holidays
  • 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    Applies: Saturdays. All required permits must be obtained. Emergency work is exempt. The director may grant a temporary waiver.
    § 13-279 · code text
    9:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. | Saturdays
  • Construction is not allowed at any hour.
    Applies: Sundays and New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Emergency work is exempt; the director may grant waivers.
    § 13-279 · code text
    Prohibited all hours | Sundays and the following specified federal holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
Noise limit at homes
  • No more than 55 dB(A) outdoors.
    Applies: Measured on residential property, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The limit may not be passed for more than 30 minutes in any hour.
    § 13-280 · code text
    55 dB(A) | 7:00 a.m.—11:00 p.m.
  • No more than 50 dB(A) outdoors.
    Applies: Measured on residential property, 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The limit may not be passed for more than 30 minutes in any hour.
    § 13-280 · code text
    50 dB(A) | 11:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m.
  • No more than 45 dB(A) indoors.
    Applies: Measured inside another dwelling unit, 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The limit may not be passed for more than 5 minutes in any hour.
    § 13-281 · code text
    45 dB(A) | 11:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Costa Mesa?

Costa Mesa's code: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Mondays to Fridays. All required permits must be obtained. Emergency work is exempt. The director may grant a temporary waiver.) (§ 13-279); No more than 55 dB(A) outdoors. (Measured on residential property, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The limit may not be passed for more than 30 minutes in any hour.) (§ 13-280).

General information, not legal advice.

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Costa Mesa Municipal Code — full text