Orange County city custody
Costa Mesa City Jail
A 24-bed Type I facility at Costa Mesa Police headquarters, holding people roughly 24 to 48 hours before court or release.
The Costa Mesa Police Department operates a small city jail inside its headquarters on Fair Drive. It is a short-stay facility: the department describes it as a 24-bed Type I jail that houses arrestees before court or release, typically for 24 to 48 hours. Knowing that timeframe changes what you should do first.
Facility details
| Facility | Costa Mesa Police Department jail |
| Type | 24-bed Type I jail facility |
| Typical stay | 24 to 48 hours, before court or release |
| Address | Police headquarters, 99 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 |
| Non-emergency dispatch | (714) 754-5252 |
| Front desk and lobby | Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Visiting | Monday to Saturday 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Sunday from 3:00 p.m. |
| Court for Costa Mesa cases | Usually the Harbor Justice Center; the West Justice Center also covers part of this area. Confirm from the release paperwork — see how courthouse assignment works |
Source: the City of Costa Mesa’s police pages for jail operations and department hours. Verified 18 September 2026. The City does not publish a bail-acceptance procedure for this facility, so confirm on (714) 754-5252 before travelling with a payment — we will not tell you a counter takes bail when the City has not said so.
What a Type I facility means here
Under California Code of Regulations, Title 15, § 1006, a Type I facility is a local detention facility used to hold people for not more than 96 hours, excluding holidays, after booking. That is the regulatory classification of the building — not a prediction about a particular person. Costa Mesa’s own description, 24 to 48 hours, is the practical figure.
The consequence that matters: someone not released quickly is likely to be transferred to county custody at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana. If you cannot find a person who was definitely arrested in Costa Mesa, a transfer is the first thing to check.
What to do first
- Confirm where they actually are. A city jail booking may not appear in the county system — see Orange County inmate search.
- Get the charge and the bail amount. The Sheriff’s public system does not display charges; call us or the department.
- Move quickly. With a 24 to 48 hour window, a bond arranged early can mean release from the city jail rather than a transfer downtown.
- Check for warrants and holds — see warrants and the 1275 hold.
Questions we get asked most
How long will someone be held at the Costa Mesa jail?
The City describes the facility as holding arrestees typically from 24 to 48 hours before going to court or being released. As a Type I facility, the regulatory maximum is 96 hours excluding holidays after booking.
Can bail be posted at the Costa Mesa Police Department?
The City does not publish a bail-acceptance procedure for this jail. Call (714) 754-5252 to confirm before travelling with a payment, or let us handle it.
What are the visiting hours?
Monday to Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday from 3:00 p.m. Confirm before travelling.
Where is someone transferred to from Costa Mesa?
Orange County custody runs through the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana, which is where transfers and releases are processed.
Which court hears Costa Mesa cases?
The courthouse the Superior Court lists as handling criminal matters for this area is the Harbor Justice Center. That describes what the courthouse handles — it is not a case assignment. The defendant’s release paperwork and case record control the actual court assignment.
Related resources
Costa Mesa bail bonds · Harbor Justice Center · Intake Release Center · Orange County jails · Orange County inmate search · OC bail amount lookup
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