BUSINESS INSIGHT TOOL

TEMPORARY OUTDOOR USE PERMITS

On June 2, 2020, the City Council approved Urgency Ordinance 2020-15 which allowed:

  • Temporary outdoor dining for restaurants on private properties, within parking lots, and certain areas in the public right-of-way
  • Temporary religious services within an institution’s parking lot or other on-site open spaces
  • Temporarily waiving requirements for valet parking

On July 21, 2020, the City Council approved an Urgency Ordinance, which allowed a temporary expansion of retail and service businesses (such as gyms and hair salons) to operate outside on sidewalks and parking lots.

Some of these configurations require approval of a temporary use permit (TUP) or a sidewalk vendor permit. To find the appropriate application forms or to learn more about the expanded outdoor uses, visit the City’s Planning Division or email planninginfo@costamesaca.gov for any questions you may have.

COVID-19 Grant Programs

The City of Costa Mesa has distributed grants to over 450 local Costa Mesa businesses with over $3 million in COVID-19 funds and over $1.5 million City reserve funds. The distribution of these grants was delivered to eligible businesses through the Small Business Relief Grant Program’s triage to the economic fallout from necessary health actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19  and followed by the Bridge Grant Program, which supported businesses through the gap in federal and state fiscal support during the second regional stay-at-home order. To see the companies’ list provided grant funding by the Small Business Relief Grant Program, click here. The list of businesses provided grant funding by the Bridge Grant Program will be poste shortly,. All funds have been disbursed. The City is now focusing on seeking programs that can offer more long-term support as we transition from limited accessibility to a more open market environment. The City would like to recognize our program administrators. We partnered with the Orange County Small Business Development Center (OC SBDC) for the Small Business Relief Grant program. For the Bridge Grant Program, we partnered with LISC LA. OC SBDC continues to be a resource for small businesses throughout this pandemic. Please seek them out for any guidance you might need for your small businesses at the link here: https://orangecountysbdc.org/. LISC LA is an excellent CDFI, and their professional efficiency was much appreciated. You can know more about them and the services they offer at the link here: www.lisc.org/los-angeles. If you are a grant recipient and you are seeking the portal to provide receipts in compliance with the grant agreement, please go to the link here: https://costamesabac.com/grant-programs/