California issues a dedicated C-39 specialty roofing classification through the CSLB, so a contractor with an active C-39 license is licensed specifically for roofing work rather than general construction.
Costa Mesa sits close enough to the coast that salt-loaded marine air corrodes roof fasteners and flashing, which is why coastal-adjacent roofs are detailed differently from fully inland ones.
California's Title 24 energy code and cool-roof requirements influence roofing material choices across Orange County, affecting how many Costa Mesa re-roofs are specified.
Costa Mesa sits close enough to the coast to catch marine air yet far enough inland to bake under Orange County sun, and that combination is hard on roofs. Homeowners in Eastside Costa Mesa and Mesa Verde deal with aging tile and shingle systems, while the flat commercial roofs of South Coast Metro and the Westside industrial parks face their own pressures. Finding the right roofing contractor in Costa Mesa means looking past price alone and weighing licensing, materials, and local track record. This piece walks through what actually matters when a Costa Mesa property owner hires a roofer, from license verification to material choice, permits, and the local knowledge that separates a lasting roof from a callback.
A roofing contractor is different from a handyman who occasionally patches roofs. A true contractor handles the full scope of work, from complete tear-off and re-decking to structural framing repair and code compliance, and carries the licensing and insurance that protect the property owner throughout. In California, that starts with a C-39 specialty roofing license through the Contractors State License Board. When a homeowner searches for a roofing contractor in Costa Mesa, that license status is the first thing worth verifying before any other conversation begins.
Roofing carries real risk, both to the structure and to the crew working at height. That is why contractor-intent decisions carry heavy trust requirements. A legitimate roofing contractor in Costa Mesa holds an active California CSLB license in the C-39 roofing classification, carries general liability insurance, and maintains active workers' compensation coverage. Bonded status and OSHA safety compliance round out the picture, giving the property owner recourse if the work falls short. These are not paperwork formalities; they are what stands between a homeowner and liability if a worker is injured or the structure is damaged during the work.
Hercules Roofing holds California CSLB License #1076561 in the C-39 classification and is licensed, bonded, and insured. Verifying a license number directly through the CSLB website takes only a few minutes and confirms the classification is both active and roofing-specific. Any Costa Mesa property owner weighing a contractor should ask for the license number up front and check it, since an unlicensed or wrongly classified operator exposes the homeowner to real financial and legal risk that a licensed roofing contractor in Costa Mesa simply does not.
What separates a contractor from a patch-and-go operation is the range of work they can complete. Full roof replacement, complete tear-off, overlay and re-roofing, emergency tarping after storm damage, structural wood framing repair, plywood sheathing replacement, and fascia and soffit rebuilding all fall within a real contractor's scope. When a roof has reached the end of its service life or sustained storm damage, this breadth matters, because problems below the surface often surface only once the old material comes off.
Specialty installations extend the scope further. Cool roof conversions, skylight installation and flashing, commercial flat roof overlays, and custom sheet metal fabrication for gutters, chimney caps, and valley metal are all part of a full-service contractor's work, and each demands its own skills and tools. Diagnostic capability matters too, including thermal imaging leak detection, structural load assessment, moisture surveys, and pre-purchase roof evaluations that catch problems before they spread. A roofing contractor in Costa Mesa who can handle this full range gives a property owner one accountable partner rather than a patchwork of specialists.
Material choice is where local knowledge earns its keep. Costa Mesa's residential neighborhoods carry a mix of heavyweight dimensional shingles, S-tile and clay mission tile, interlocking concrete tile, standing seam metal, and synthetic slate. Under any of these, a self-adhering ice and water shield or synthetic underlayment does the quiet work of keeping moisture out. The right material depends on the home's structure, style, and exposure, and a knowledgeable contractor walks the owner through the trade-offs rather than pushing a single product.
Commercial and low-slope roofs call for different systems entirely, including single-ply TPO, EPDM, and PVC membranes, modified bitumen cold-process systems, torch-down roofing, and fluid-applied elastomeric coatings. Manufacturer partnerships signal training and warranty backing, and Hercules Roofing carries credentials including Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator recognition among others. A roofing contractor in Costa Mesa who installs manufacturer-backed systems can register the warranties that protect a property owner's investment over the long run.
Geography shapes roofing more than many homeowners expect. Eastside Costa Mesa sees custom residential remodels, Mesa Verde is known for mid-century ranch and tile re-roofs, and areas like Halecrest, Freedom Homes, and the Costa Mesa Country Club neighborhood each carry their own housing stock and roofing needs. On the commercial side, South Coast Metro holds high-rise and commercial flat roofs, while the Westside light industrial zone along Placentia and Superior Avenues and the 17th Street commercial district bring flat and low-slope work.
Climate ties it all together. Marine layer salt corrosion attacks fasteners and flashing, Santa Ana winds demand uplift resistance rated for high gusts, and Title 24 cool-roof requirements shape material choices for heat mitigation across Orange County homes and businesses. A roofing contractor in Costa Mesa who understands these local pressures specifies systems built to withstand them, rather than applying a generic approach that ignores what makes coastal-adjacent Orange County roofs age the way they do.
Roofing work in Costa Mesa generally requires a permit through the City of Costa Mesa Development Services and Building Division, followed by a final building inspection sign-off. Beyond the local permit, California layers on Title 24 energy efficiency compliance and, in many cases, Class A fire rating documentation coordinated with the Orange County Fire Authority. These requirements exist to protect the homeowner and the neighborhood, and a licensed contractor handles them as part of the job.
A property owner should be wary of any roofer who suggests skipping the permit to save time or money. Unpermitted roofing work can surface later during a home sale or insurance claim and become far more expensive to resolve than the permit would ever have cost. A reputable roofing contractor in Costa Mesa pulls the proper permits, schedules the required inspections, and provides the documentation, so the completed roof stands up to scrutiny down the line rather than becoming a hidden liability.
A short list of questions separates a serious roofing contractor in Costa Mesa from an operator to avoid. Start with the license number and verify it. Ask whether the company carries both general liability insurance and active workers' compensation, since a crew injury on an uninsured job can become the homeowner's problem. Ask how the company handles permits, whether it provides a written scope of work, and how it documents the job with photos before, during, and after.
It also helps to ask about materials and warranties directly. A contractor should explain which manufacturer systems it is certified to install, what the manufacturer warranty covers, and how workmanship is stood behind. Vague answers are a signal to keep looking. A property owner who asks these questions early avoids the far more expensive experience of discovering gaps after the work is done, and a reputable roofer welcomes the questions rather than deflecting them.
Costa Mesa's building stock runs from single-family homes to light industrial parks and mixed-use commercial buildings, and a contractor who handles both brings useful perspective. Residential work centers on tile, shingle, and metal systems where appearance and neighborhood character matter alongside performance. The custom remodels of Eastside Costa Mesa and the tile re-roofs common in Mesa Verde each call for care in matching materials to the existing home.
Commercial and low-slope work is a different discipline, built around membrane systems, coatings, and drainage rather than sloped shingles. The flat roofs of South Coast Metro and the industrial buildings along Placentia and Superior Avenues need contractors comfortable with TPO, EPDM, PVC, and modified bitumen. A contractor with genuine capability across both residential and commercial roofs can serve a property owner through changing needs, whether that is a home re-roof today or a commercial coating project later.
Orange County's weather is mild much of the year, but Santa Ana wind events and winter storms can still lift shingles, displace tile, and drive water into a structure. When damage strikes, the priority is preventing further water intrusion, which is where emergency tarping and rapid response matter. A contractor equipped for storm damage restoration can stabilize a roof quickly and then plan the permanent repair or replacement in an orderly way.
Storm work often intersects with insurance, and clear documentation supports a homeowner's claim. Photographs of the damage, a written assessment, and a defensible scope of repair all help the insurance process go smoothly and reduce back-and-forth. A contractor who documents thoroughly and communicates in plain language makes a stressful situation more manageable, turning storm damage from a crisis into a defined project with a clear path to a sound, watertight roof.
A free inspection is a low-risk way for a Costa Mesa property owner to understand the true condition of a roof before committing to anything. A thorough inspection looks at the roof surface, flashing, seams, penetrations, and drainage, and it distinguishes between cosmetic wear and problems that threaten the structure. The result should be a plain-language explanation of what the roof actually needs, with clear priorities, not a high-pressure pitch for the most expensive option available.
Inspections are especially valuable around a home sale, an insurance question, or simply the uncertainty of an aging roof. Knowing whether a roof has years of life left or is nearing replacement lets an owner plan and budget rather than react to a leak. A local roofer that offers free inspections and honest reporting gives property owners the information they need to make sound decisions, which is exactly what a trustworthy contractor relationship should provide.
Online reviews and word of mouth carry real weight in a market like Costa Mesa, where neighbors compare notes and repeat business is common. A pattern of positive, detailed reviews across Google and Yelp over time tends to reflect consistent workmanship and reliable communication rather than a single good day or a handful of favors. Hercules Roofing carries a 5-star reputation across verified Google and Yelp reviews, and reputation of that kind is earned one completed roof at a time.
Reputation also shows up in the details a homeowner notices during a project: crews that clean up debris each day, clear updates on timing, and a willingness to answer questions without impatience. These are the marks of a contractor that treats a roof as someone's home rather than just another job. When comparing options, a Costa Mesa property owner is well served by choosing a roofer whose local reputation reflects the kind of experience they want on their own property.
Hiring a roofer is a significant decision, and the right approach rewards a little diligence. Verify the C-39 license, confirm insurance and bonding, ask about the full scope of work, and look for a contractor who knows Costa Mesa's neighborhoods and climate rather than one who treats every roof the same. Free estimates and inspections make it easy to compare options without committing, and financing is available to qualified homeowners for larger projects such as a full replacement or a commercial coating.
Hercules Roofing serves Costa Mesa and the wider Orange County area from its Huntington Beach headquarters, holding California CSLB License #1076561 (C-39) with a 5-star reputation across verified Google and Yelp reviews. Any property owner comparing options for a roofing contractor in Costa Mesa can request a free estimate and inspection, and the team can be reached at (949) 229-7092 to talk through the specific needs of the home or building.
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Costa Mesa, California
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| Nickname:
Goat Hill[1]
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| Motto:
"City of the Arts"
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Interactive map of Costa Mesa, California
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Costa Mesa
Location within Greater Los Angeles
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Coordinates: 33°39′54″N 117°54′44″W / 33.66500°N 117.91222°WCountryUnited StatesStateCaliforniaCountyOrangeIncorporatedJune 29, 1953[4]Government
• TypeCouncil-manager • MayorJohn Stephens • Mayor Pro TemManuel Chavez • City Council[2]Mike Buley
Loren Gameros
Andrea Marr
Arlis Reynolds
Jeff Pettis • City ManagerCecilia Gallardo-Daly[3]Area
15.81 sq mi (40.96 km2) • Land15.81 sq mi (40.94 km2) • Water0.0077 sq mi (0.02 km2) 0.29%Elevation
98 ft (30 m)Population
111,918 • Rank8th in Orange County
63rd in California • Density7,080.6/sq mi (2,733.85/km2)DemonymCosta MesanTime zoneUTC−8 (PST) • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)ZIP Codes
Area code714/657/949FIPS code06-16532GNIS feature IDs1652692, 2410239Websitewww
Costa Mesa (/ˌkoʊstə ˈmeɪsə/ KOH-stə MAY-sə; Spanish for 'Mesa Coast')[7] is a city in Orange County, California, United States. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to an urban area including part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city, one of the region's largest commercial clusters, with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light manufacturing. The population was 111,918 at the 2020 census.
Members of the Tongva and Acjachemen nations long inhabited the area. The Tongva villages of Lupukngna, at least 3,000 years old, and the shared Tongva and Acjachemen village of Genga, at least 9,500 years old, were located in the area on the bluffs along the Santa Ana River.[8][9]
After the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolà, a Spanish expedition led by Junípero Serra named the area Vallejo de Santa Ana (Valley of Saint Anne). On November 1, 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano became the area's first permanent European settlement in Alta California, New Spain.[10]
In 1801, the Spanish Empire granted 62,500 acres (253 km2) to Jose Antonio Yorba, which he named Rancho San Antonio.
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States, and American settlers arrived in this area and formed the town of Fairview in the 1880s near the modern intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Adams Avenue.
To the south, meanwhile, the community of Harper had arisen on a siding of the Santa Ana and Newport Railway, named after a local rancher. This town prospered on its agricultural goods. On May 11, 1920, Harper changed its name to Costa Mesa, which means "coastal tableland" in Spanish.[7] This is a reference to the city's geography as being a plateau by the coast. Fanny Bixby Spencer and her husband sponsored the contest which selected the city's new name.[11]
Costa Mesa surged in population during and after World War II, as many thousands trained at Santa Ana Army Air Base and returned after the war with their families. Within three decades of incorporation, the city's population had nearly quintupled.[12]
Costa Mesa is located 37 miles (60 km) southeast of Los Angeles, and 87 miles (140 km) northwest of San Diego. Costa Mesa encompasses a total of 16 square miles (41 km2) with its southernmost border only 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Pacific Ocean.
Costa Mesa has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) with mild temperatures year round. Rain falls primarily in the winter months and is close to nonexistent during the summer.
| Climate data for John Wayne Airport, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 90 (32) |
91 (33) |
95 (35) |
99 (37) |
99 (37) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
100 (38) |
110 (43) |
106 (41) |
100 (38) |
90 (32) |
110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 83.1 (28.4) |
81.5 (27.5) |
83.2 (28.4) |
87.3 (30.7) |
85.6 (29.8) |
85.0 (29.4) |
89.0 (31.7) |
90.5 (32.5) |
97.0 (36.1) |
93.8 (34.3) |
88.6 (31.4) |
79.7 (26.5) |
99.6 (37.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 67.0 (19.4) |
66.7 (19.3) |
67.7 (19.8) |
70.2 (21.2) |
71.3 (21.8) |
74.1 (23.4) |
78.9 (26.1) |
80.4 (26.9) |
79.9 (26.6) |
76.5 (24.7) |
71.9 (22.2) |
66.5 (19.2) |
72.6 (22.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 57.8 (14.3) |
58.4 (14.7) |
60.0 (15.6) |
62.6 (17.0) |
65.3 (18.5) |
68.3 (20.2) |
72.5 (22.5) |
73.8 (23.2) |
72.5 (22.5) |
67.8 (19.9) |
62.6 (17.0) |
57.4 (14.1) |
64.9 (18.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 48.6 (9.2) |
50.1 (10.1) |
52.3 (11.3) |
54.9 (12.7) |
59.3 (15.2) |
62.6 (17.0) |
66.2 (19.0) |
67.1 (19.5) |
65.0 (18.3) |
59.2 (15.1) |
53.3 (11.8) |
48.3 (9.1) |
57.2 (14.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 39.8 (4.3) |
40.7 (4.8) |
44.8 (7.1) |
48.8 (9.3) |
53.5 (11.9) |
58.3 (14.6) |
61.8 (16.6) |
62.7 (17.1) |
59.7 (15.4) |
53.3 (11.8) |
44.8 (7.1) |
39.2 (4.0) |
37.7 (3.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 33 (1) |
36 (2) |
41 (5) |
41 (5) |
49 (9) |
54 (12) |
57 (14) |
58 (14) |
56 (13) |
46 (8) |
37 (3) |
36 (2) |
33 (1) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.59 (66) |
2.64 (67) |
1.62 (41) |
0.52 (13) |
0.27 (6.9) |
0.01 (0.25) |
0.04 (1.0) |
0.01 (0.25) |
0.10 (2.5) |
0.54 (14) |
0.80 (20) |
2.04 (52) |
11.18 (284) |
| Average precipitation days | 5.6 | 7.4 | 5.7 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 6.9 | 41.3 |
| Source: NOAA[13][14] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11,844 | — | |
| 1960 | 37,550 | 217.0% | |
| 1970 | 72,660 | 93.5% | |
| 1980 | 82,562 | 13.6% | |
| 1990 | 96,357 | 16.7% | |
| 2000 | 108,724 | 12.8% | |
| 2010 | 109,960 | 1.1% | |
| 2020 | 111,918 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] 1860–1870[16][17] 1880–1890[18] 1900[19] 1910[20] 1920[21] 1930[22] 1940[23] 1950[24] 1960[25] 1970[26] 1980[27] 1990[28] 2000[29] 2010[30] 2020[31] |
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Costa Mesa was first listed as an unincorporated community in the 1950 U.S. census as part of unincorporated Newport Beach Township;[24] and listed as a city in the 1960 U.S. census.[25]
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[32] | Pop 1990[33] | Pop 2000[34] | Pop 2010[35] | Pop 2020[31] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 68,813 | 69,493 | 61,778 | 56,993 | 54,169 | 83.35% | 72.12% | 56.82% | 51.83% | 48.40% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 534 | 1,140 | 1,313 | 1,352 | 1,306 | 0.65% | 1.18% | 1.21% | 1.23% | 1.17% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 538 | 240 | 329 | 266 | 232 | 0.65% | 0.35% | 0.30% | 0.24% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 4,162 | 5,998 | 7,421 | 8,483 | 9,455 | 5.04% | 6.22% | 6.83% | 7.71% | 8.45% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 601 | 486 | 412 | 0.55% | 0.44% | 0.37% | ||||
| Other race alone (NH) | 166 | 67 | 220 | 243 | 618 | 0.20% | 0.07% | 0.20% | 0.22% | 0.55% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x | x | 2,539 | 2,734 | 4,931 | x | x | 2.34% | 2.49% | 4.41% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8,349 | 19,319 | 34,523 | 39,403 | 40,795 | 10.11% | 20.05% | 31.75% | 35.83% | 36.45% |
| Total | 82,562 | 96,357 | 108,724 | 109,960 | 111,918 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The 2020 United States census reported that Costa Mesa had a population of 111,918. The population density was 7,080.7 inhabitants per square mile (2,733.9/km2). The racial makeup of Costa Mesa was 54.1% White, 1.3% African American, 1.3% Native American, 8.7% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 19.1% from other races, and 15.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.5% of the population.[36]
The census reported that 98.3% of the population lived in households, 1.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.4% were institutionalized.[36]
There were 42,179 households, out of which 28.2% included children under the age of 18, 41.2% were married-couple households, 9.5% were cohabiting couple households, 27.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 22.3% had a male householder with no partner present. 26.5% of households were one person, and 8.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61.[36] There were 25,143 families (59.6% of all households).[37]
The age distribution was 19.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% aged 18 to 24, 35.0% aged 25 to 44, 24.0% aged 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males.[36]
There were 44,047 housing units at an average density of 2,786.7 units per square mile (1,076.0 units/km2), of which 42,179 (95.8%) were occupied. Of these, 38.9% were owner-occupied, and 61.1% were occupied by renters.[36]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $110,073, and the per capita income was $56,625. About 5.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line.[38]
At the 2010 census Costa Mesa had a population of 109,960. The population density was 7,004.0 inhabitants per square mile (2,704.3/km2). The racial makeup of Costa Mesa was 75,335 (68.5%) White (51.8% Non-Hispanic White),[39] 1,640 (1.5%) African American, 686 (0.6%) Native American, 8,654 (7.9%) Asian, 527 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 17,992 (16.4%) from other races, and 5,126 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39,403 persons (35.8%).[40]
The Census reported that 106,990 people (97.3% of the population) lived in households, 2,232 (2.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 738 (0.7%) were institutionalized.[citation needed]
There were 39,946 households, 12,298 (30.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 16,478 (41.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,369 (10.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,392 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,013 (7.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 281 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 10,963 households (27.4%) were one person and 2,775 (6.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68. There were 23,239 families (58.2% of households); the average family size was 3.30.[citation needed]
The age distribution was 23,682 people (21.5%) under the age of 18, 12,847 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 38,211 people (34.7%) aged 25 to 44, 25,106 people (22.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,114 people (9.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.[citation needed]
There were 42,120 housing units at an average density of 2,682.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 15,799 (39.6%) were owner-occupied and 24,147 (60.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 42,517 people (38.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 64,473 people (58.6%) lived in rental housing units.
During 2009–2013, Costa Mesa had a median household income of $65,830, with 15.1% of the population living below the poverty line.[39]
Measure Y is a ballot initiative approved by voters in 2016. It requires public approval of projects that have a general plan amendment or zoning change and would add 40 or more dwelling units or 10,000 or more square feet of commercial space.[41] The median housing price is $807,000 ($505 per sq ft) and $3,500 for the median rent per month.[42] Measure Y was amended in 2022 by Measure K.
The city's economy relies heavily on retail and services. The largest center of commercial activity is South Coast Plaza, a shopping center noted for its architecture and size. The volume of sales generated by South Coast Plaza, on the strength of its more than 270 stores, places it among the highest volume regional shopping centers in the nation. It generates more than $1 billion per year in revenue.[43] South Coast Metro is a commercial, cultural, and residential district surrounding South Coast Plaza in northern Costa Mesa and southern Santa Ana, itself part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city.
Some manufacturing activity also takes place in the city, mostly in the industrial, southwestern quarter, which is home to a number of electronics, pharmaceuticals and plastics firms. Business services company Experian has its North American headquarters in Costa Mesa.
Anduril Industries, Ceradyne, El Pollo Loco, Emulex, Hurley, RVCA, Toyota Racing Development, Vans, and Volcom are among the businesses headquartered in Costa Mesa. A local newspaper, the Daily Pilot, is published by the Los Angeles Times.
The Trinity Broadcasting Network was headquartered in Costa Mesa (and had its main production studio there) until it relocated most of its operations.[44] In addition, the Calvary Chapel denomination, along with its "mother church" Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, is located in the city.
Wahoo's Fish Taco was founded in Costa Mesa in 1988 by Chinese-Brazilian brothers Eduardo "Ed" Lee, Renato "Mingo" Lee and Wing Lam.[45]
Costa Mesa offers 26 parks, a municipal golf course, 26 public schools and two libraries.[citation needed]
According to the city's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025,[46] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experian Information Solutions | 3,700 |
| 2 | Coast Community College District | 2,900 |
| 3 | Anduril Industries | 2,500 |
| 4 | Orange Coast College | 1,900 |
| 5 | California State Hospital-Fairview Dev. Ctr. | 1,215 |
| 6 | Automobile Club Enterprises | 1,200 |
| 7 | Nationsbenefit LLC | 740 |
| 8 | Monroe Operations LLC | 681 |
| 9 | IBM | 675 |
| 10 | Deloitte & Touche LLP | 630 |
The Orange County Fair takes place at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa each July. The Fair receives more than one million visitors each year.[47]
The Annual Scarecrow & Pumpkin Festival was first held in 1938, went on hiatus for seven decades, and then was restarted in 2013.[48]
Adjacent to the Fairgrounds is the Pacific Amphitheatre, which has hosted acts such as Madonna, Jessica Simpson, Steppenwolf, and Kelly Clarkson.
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Repertory Theater are based in the city.[49]
Costa Mesa has been home to the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders training camp since 2024. Previously it was home to the training center, training camp and corporate headquarters of the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017 to 2024. The team agreed to a lease of the facility they moved into prior to their relocation from San Diego.[50]
The building, called the Jack Hammett Sports Complex is a former office space, but Chargers players and coaches said it was an upgrade from what the team had in San Diego.[51] The Chargers occupied the facility until 2024 when they left for a purpose-built practice facility in El Segundo. The team gutted the first floor of the building to make room for team rooms. Construction cost more than $3.8 million. After the Chargers departed for El Segundo, the facility became the training camp home of the Las Vegas Raiders.[52]
Decades prior, the facility was a lima bean farm owned by a Swedish immigrant family who became prominent developers in Orange County.[53]
A general law city, Costa Mesa has a council-manager form of government. In November 2016, voters approved changing the City Council seats from five at-large seats to six voting districts and a directly elected mayor, who acts as the chairperson for the council and head of the government.[54] The mayor serves two-year terms and councilmembers serve four year terms, with each office having a two-term limit. Municipal elections are held every two years, during which the mayor and three councilmembers are up for election.
Day to day, the city is run by a professional city manager and staff of approximately 460 full-time employees.[55] Residents of the city are also serviced by various special districts, including the Mesa Water District, the Orange County Water District, the Municipal Water District of Orange County, the Irvine Ranch Water District, and the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.
In the California State Legislature, Costa Mesa is in the 37th senatorial district, represented by Republican Steven Choi, and in the 73rd Assembly district, represented by Democrat Cottie Petrie-Norris.[56]
In the United States House of Representatives, Costa Mesa is in California's 47th congressional district, represented by Democrat Dave Min.[57]
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024[58] | 50.98% 24,814 | 45.76% 22,273 | 3.26% 1,585 |
| 2020[59] | 56.00% 29,804 | 41.44% 22,056 | 2.55% 1,358 |
| 2016[60] | 50.95% 21,528 | 40.75% 17,219 | 8.30% 3,507 |
| 2012[61] | 47.66% 18,414 | 48.60% 18,778 | 3.74% 1,443 |
| 2008[62] | 51.88% 20,542 | 45.32% 17,945 | 2.80% 1,107 |
| 2004[63] | 42.91% 16,442 | 55.55% 21,284 | 1.54% 590 |
| 2000[64] | 40.06% 13,733 | 54.13% 18,556 | 5.81% 1,990 |
| 1996[65] | 36.97% 11,949 | 50.16% 16,213 | 12.87% 4,161 |
| 1992[66] | 32.46% 12,702 | 40.02% 15,659 | 27.52% 10,769 |
| 1988[67] | 33.90% 11,849 | 64.47% 22,534 | 1.63% 571 |
| 1984[68] | 26.16% 8,908 | 72.39% 24,652 | 1.45% 493 |
| 1980[69] | 24.67% 7,796 | 63.38% 20,028 | 11.95% 3,775 |
| 1976[70] | 35.51% 9,805 | 62.16% 17,161 | 2.33% 643 |
According to the California Secretary of State, as of February 20, 2024, Costa Mesa has 60,789 registered voters. Of those, 22,661 (37.3%) are registered Democrats, 19,888 (32.7%) are registered Republicans, 15,204 (25%) have declined to state a political party/are independents, 2,717 (4.5%) are registered American Independents, and 319 (0.5%) are registered to the Green Party.[71]
Until 2008, Costa Mesa was a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. Since 2008, Costa Mesa has mostly voted Democratic in presidential elections, owing to the GOP's shift towards cultural conservatism. In 2008, Barack Obama was the first Democrat to carry Costa Mesa in decades, while Republican nominee Mitt Romney carried the city by only 364 votes in the 2012 presidential election. Costa Mesa flipped back to Democratic in 2016, voting for Hillary Clinton by a 10.2% margin, and for Joe Biden by a 14.6% margin in 2020. [citation needed]
In 2008, Costa Mesa was one of four cities in Orange County to vote against Proposition 8 (along with Aliso Viejo, Irvine, and Laguna Beach), a statewide ballot measure that banned same-sex marriages.[72]
Institutions of higher learning located in Costa Mesa include Orange Coast College, Vanguard University (affiliated with the Assemblies of God), and Sofia University. Whittier Law School was a former school.
Costa Mesa has two public high schools, Costa Mesa High School and Estancia High School. There are also two public middle schools; TeWinkle Middle School, which was named after Costa Mesa's first mayor, and Costa Mesa Middle School which shares the same campus as Costa Mesa High School. Costa Mesa also has two alternative high schools that share the same campus, Back Bay High School and Monte Vista High School and another, Coastline Early College High School which is on its own facility. These are located in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.
Costa Mesa is served by several bus lines of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), but most transportation is by automobile. Two state highways, State Route 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) and State Route 73 (Corona del Mar Freeway), have their respective southern and northern terminus points within Costa Mesa. The San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405) also runs through the city.[73]
The 9.5 acres (3.8 hectares; 38 thousand square metres) Costa Mesa Civic Center is located at 77 Fair Drive. City hall is a five-story building where the primary administrative functions of the city are conducted. Also contained in the Civic Center complex are Council Chambers, the Police facility, Communications building and Fire Station No. 5.[74]
Fire protection is provided by the Costa Mesa Fire Department.[75] Law enforcement is the responsibility of the Costa Mesa Police Department. Emergency Medical Services are provided by the Costa Mesa Fire Department and Care Ambulance Service.[76]
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Costa Mesa travel guide from Wikivoyage|
Places adjacent to Costa Mesa, California
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