Costa Mesa · Property taxes
Property taxes in Costa Mesa
Property tax in Costa Mesa: the range of tax rates from the county's table, the levies behind it and the state rules, with a link to every source.
Key points
Costa Mesa property tax: total rates 1.0513% to 1.1406% across 250 tax rate areas (FY 2026-27), the levies behind it and the Prop 13 rules, with the county source. The county sets and collects the tax.
Each block below is marked county or state data, Costa Mesa code or CA state law, and links to its source (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Tax rates in this area
County rate table The county lists 250 tax rate areas inside Costa Mesa for fiscal year 2026-27. Their total rate runs from 1.0513% to 1.1406% of assessed value.
The total is the 1% general tax (Proposition 13) plus the rates voters approved for school, city and other bonds. It does not include fixed charges such as Mello-Roos special taxes, parcel taxes or assessments, which come on the same bill.
| Levy | Rate | Share of rate areas |
|---|---|---|
| General tax (Prop 13) | 1% | all |
| COAST CCD-EL2012 SER 2017D REF2022 | 0.0085% | 82% |
| METRO WATER DIST-MWDOC- 1205999 | 0.0085% | 69% |
| NEWPORT-MESA USD-EL2005 SER 2011 REF2017 | 0.0084% | 82% |
| COAST CCD-EL2002 SER 2006B REF2013A | 0.008% | 82% |
| NEWPORT-MESA USD-EL2005 SER 2007 | 0.0067% | 82% |
| COAST CCD-EL2012 SER 2013 A & B REF2019 | 0.0046% | 82% |
| NEWPORT-MESA USD-EL2005 SER 2017 | 0.0024% | 82% |
| COAST CCD-EL2002 SER 2006C REF2020 | 0.0022% | 82% |
Your exact rate depends on your address. Look up the rate for an address → Source: Orange County rate table, fiscal year 2026-27.
The state rules underneath
CA state law California law sets this statewide. 1% property tax limit (Prop 13): The general property tax on real property may not exceed 1% of its full cash value; voter-approved bond debt is levied on top (Cal. Const. art. XIII A, § 1(a), (b)). 2% annual cap on assessed value: The base year value rises each year by the California CPI change, but never more than 2% (Rev. & Tax. Code § 51(a)(1)(D)). California property tax rules — the full state rule →
Mills Act contracts for historic homes
| Mills Act tax incentive |
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Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Costa Mesa?
The county lists 250 tax rate areas inside Costa Mesa for fiscal year 2026-27. Their total rate runs from 1.0513% to 1.1406% of assessed value. The exact rate depends on the address.
Does Costa Mesa offer Mills Act property tax contracts?
Costa Mesa's code: The city council may adopt a preservation incentives program that includes Mills Act contracts. (§ 13-200.11).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific Costa Mesa property
Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
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