Costa Mesa, California Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated August 23, 2023
Costa Mesa Short-Term Rental Regulations
Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.
City Code of Ordinances
On November 2, 2021, the City Council passed Ordinance 2021-17, prohibiting all short-term rentals (STRs) in the whole City of Costa Mesa.Do your due diligence and consult a local lawyer or tax professional. Ordinances and Zoning are subject to changes and should always be confirmed with the City of Costa Mesa.
Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating4.2
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Competition
3.2 -
Real Estate Cost
2.4 -
STR Regulations
2.0 -
Seasonality
5.3 -
Rental Rates
8.1
Costa Mesa, California Quick Stats
Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.
- Population
- 111,918
- STR License Required
- No
- Tourist Season
- June through Aug.
- County
- Orange
- Airports
- John Wayne Airport (SNA)
- Long Beach Airport (LGB)
Want to learn more about Costa Mesa?
Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.
Check out our Costa Mesa rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Costa Mesa rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Costa Mesa.
The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.
Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.
What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Costa Mesa guests.
Interested in other California cities?
Check out the California Airbnb rules directory
What makes Costa Mesa a great place to invest?
- Costa Mesa, California is home to the world-renowned South Coast Plaza, one of the premier shopping destinations in the country, featuring over 250 retailers, including luxury brands, designer boutiques, and popular department stores.
- The city is also home to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, a cultural hub that hosts world-class performances and events in music, dance, theater, and more.
- Visitors can also experience the beauty of nature in Costa Mesa by visiting the nearby Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, which offers miles of hiking and biking trails, bird watching, and other outdoor activities.
- Costa Mesa is also home to the Orange County Fairgrounds, which hosts the annual Orange County Fair, one of the largest fairs in the state, featuring live music, carnival rides, and delicious fair food.
- And with a variety of hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals available, visitors can easily find a comfortable and affordable place to stay during their visit to this vibrant and welcoming city. So, Costa Mesa, California is a great place to visit with your family or friends.
Costa Mesa Nearby Cities
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6 miles away
- Rating: 4.5
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6 miles away
- Rating: 5.0
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in Costa Mesa?
The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Costa Mesa has increased 1% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $905, which is higher than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$1,564,770
1% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$905
5% YoY
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Average Monthly Rent
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$3,180
1% YoY
Local Short-Term Rental News for Costa Mesa
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Costa Mesa, California
Common terms for Costa Mesa short term rental listings.
When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.
Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:
- Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
- Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
- Informative: The average listing in Costa Mesa has a description approximately 1,890 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.
After reviewing more than 4,798 listings in Costa Mesa, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Newport Beach, Beach, Garage, Patio, Family, Place, Perfect, Comfortable, Car, and Outdoor.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Costa Mesa?
Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Costa Mesa involve going to the Beach, Swimming, Surfing, Theme Parks, and Whale Watching. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.
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Beach
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Swimming
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Surfing
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Theme Parks
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Whale Watching
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Sailing
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Marina
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Boating
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Cycling
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Adventure Activities
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Kayaking
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Hiking
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Costa Mesa, including Irvine Spectrum Center, University of California, Irvine, Huntington Beach Pier, South Coast Plaza, and Fashion Island. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.
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Regional Landmark
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Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Included on 56% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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University of California, Irvine
Included on 56% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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South Coast Plaza
Included on 54% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Orange County Fairgrounds
Included on 49% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Fashion Island
Included on 47% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Huntington Beach Pier
Included on 47% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Irvine Spectrum Center
Included on 46% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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South Coast Plaza
Included on 43% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Newport Pier
Included on 43% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Huntington Beach Pier
Included on 43% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Balboa Pier
Included on 41% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Balboa Beach
Included on 40% of listings
What’s the weather like in Costa Mesa, California?
The weather is about the same as the national average, with an average high temperature of around 71°, while the average low is about 57°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 12 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in Costa Mesa are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.
Winter
December through February
49° Low 66° High
Spring
March through May
55° Low 69° High
Summer
June through August
64° Low 76° High
Fall
September through November
59° Low 74° High
Cities Near Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California, is located in Orange County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
