Service Areas / Orange County

Eviction Lawyer for Landlords in Costa Mesa, CA

Costa Mesa has a mix of older apartment buildings on the Westside and near the fairgrounds, single family rentals, and units leased to students and young professionals. We represent Costa Mesa landlords in every stage of the unlawful detainer process.

Call (714) 782-7275 Free consultation

Eviction rules that apply in Costa Mesa

  • The statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) applies to most rentals older than 15 years: just cause is required once a tenant has lived there 12 months, and annual increases are capped at 5% plus inflation (10% maximum), unless the lease contains the exact exemption notice the law requires.
  • Since 2025 a 3 day notice must state the exact start and end of the notice period, exclude weekends and court holidays, give a real payment address, and say the landlord will retake possession (Eshagian v. Cepeda).
  • Tenants now have 10 court days to respond to an unlawful detainer (AB 2347), so plan on roughly an extra week compared with the old 5 day rule.
  • Costa Mesa follows state law; there is no city rent control or just cause ordinance.

Roommate turnover, unauthorized occupants and holdovers after a lease ends are common in Costa Mesa cases, and the right notice depends on who signed the lease.

How we handle a Costa Mesa eviction

  1. Review. We confirm which state and local rules cover the unit, check the lease and the rent ledger, and identify the right notice.
  2. Notice. We prepare the notice (3 day, 30, 60 or 90 day) with the exact dates and content the law requires, and arrange proper service.
  3. Lawsuit. If the tenant does not pay or move, we file the unlawful detainer in the Orange County Superior Court and have the tenant served.
  4. Default or trial. If there is no response within 10 court days we request a default judgment; if the tenant answers we request a trial date and handle settlement talks and the trial.
  5. Lockout. After judgment we obtain the writ of possession and coordinate the sheriff lockout so you get the property back.

Want the details? Read our guides to the eviction process, eviction notices and California eviction law.

Talk to an eviction attorney about your Costa Mesa property. Call (714) 782-7275 (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday) or send us a message. Consultations are free.

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Updated October 11, 2026. General information, not legal advice for your situation. Local ordinances change; we verify the current rules for every case.