Apartments, Homes & Creative Offices
Movers in Costa Mesa, CA
Most homes in Costa Mesa are rented, and many sit on long, narrow lots or in apartment communities. Ark Moving Co. plans Costa Mesa moves around permit-parking streets, driveways and the city's busy event weeks, about 6 miles from Irvine City Hall.
Our Services
Moving services in Costa Mesa
Every service comes with published local rates from $129/hr and furniture protection on every move.
Local Know-How
Moving in Costa Mesa: apartments, long lots and permit streets
About 63% of Costa Mesa's homes are rented, and the city's General Plan counts roughly twice as many multi-family homes as single-family ones. On the Eastside and Westside, many properties were subdivided long ago into long, narrow lots, often with a row of units down one side and the driveway down the other. That shapes a move: where the truck stops, and how far the crew carries along the driveway.
Several neighborhoods are Residential Permit Parking streets, with signs, virtual permits tied to license plates and camera enforcement. New residents apply online, up to four permits per household; oversized vehicles aren't eligible. City code also limits commercial vehicles off truck routes to 3 hours and bans parking in alleys, so the crew plans the truck's spot before moving day.
Costa Mesa hosts the OC Fair every July, with more than a million visitors, and South Coast Plaza, California's largest mall. I-405 runs through the city, and SR-55 and SR-73 both end here, so event days and freeway traffic around them are worth planning around. From Irvine City Hall the drive is about 6 miles by Jamboree Road and I-405.
Costa Mesa at a glance
- Population
- 109,436 (Jan 2026)
- Homes that are rented
- About 63%
- Median home value
- $1,166,800
- From Irvine City Hall
- About 6 miles, via Jamboree Rd and I-405
- ZIP codes
- 92626–92628
Before your Costa Mesa move
- Check whether your street has Residential Permit Parking signs, and where a truck can legally stand.
- On a long Eastside or Westside lot, tell us the length of the driveway and where your unit is.
- If you need a dumpster in the street for move-out cleanup, get the city's 14-day bin permit first.
- Avoid the OC Fair weeks in July around the fairgrounds if you can.
- In an apartment community, confirm move hours, elevator booking and loading areas with the manager.
Costa Mesa neighborhoods we serve
- Eastside: older long, narrow lots, many with units along one side and a long driveway
- Westside: long lots too, next to the city's oldest industrial area
- Mesa Verde: single-family and multi-family homes between I-405, Harbor Blvd and the Santa Ana River, with two golf courses
- South Coast Metro: dense apartments, offices and shops around South Coast Plaza
- SoBECA: mixed-use blocks with homes among shops and studios on South Bristol
- College Park: residential neighborhood in north Costa Mesa
Sources: California Department of Finance, E-1 population estimates (Jan 1, 2026), U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 (via Census Reporter), City of Costa Mesa General Plan, Land Use Element, City of Costa Mesa, Residential Permit Parking, City of Costa Mesa, temporary bin permits, City of Costa Mesa, parking enforcement, Costa Mesa (Wikipedia).
Why Choose Us
Why Costa Mesa chooses Ark Moving
Licensed & insured
BHGS #CAL-T203143 — verify it on the state's BHGS license search.
Published rates
From $129/hr, with minimums, travel and materials confirmed in your quote.
Careful handling
Pads, shrink-wrap and wardrobe boxes on every move.
Furniture rebuilt
Standard disassembly and reassembly as part of hourly labor.
Testimonials
What customers say
FAQs
Moving in Costa Mesa: FAQ
How much do movers cost in Costa Mesa?
Local hourly starting rates are $129 for a small move (2 movers, 1 truck), $164 for a medium move and $199 for a large move. Your quote confirms minimums, travel and materials for your Costa Mesa move.
I just moved to a Costa Mesa street that requires parking permits. What now?
Apply online through the city's permit portal (costamesa.permitinfo.net). Permits are virtual and tied to your license plate: one per eligible driver, up to four per household, at $25, $50, $75 and $100. Guest permits are $25 for 100 a year. Oversized vehicles aren't eligible. On moving day, tell us your street is a permit street and we plan where the truck stops.
Do I need a permit for a dumpster when I move out in Costa Mesa?
Yes, for a bin in the street: the city's permit costs $41.32 and covers 14 calendar days. You apply online under "Dumpster Permit" and allow two business days, and the bin must come from a city-approved hauler. Bins without a permit can be impounded.
What are red flags with movers?
A mover that can't give you its California household goods permit number, or won't put your quote in writing. Every household goods mover in California needs a permit from the state's Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS). Ark's is CAL-T203143, and you can look it up on the BHGS license search.
Do you move offices in Costa Mesa?
Yes. Office and commercial moves are quoted per project around your inventory, building access, schedule and the layout at the new space.
Nearby areas we serve
Moving nearby? We cover all of Orange County.
Moving in Costa Mesa? Let's make it easy
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