Last updated
By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources rechecked November 9, 2026.
Read this article in Español.
Win Attorneys is a California personal injury firm that helps injured people in Costa Mesa from our only office in Tustin, at 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210. Call (562) 296-5380. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese. If a City vehicle, sidewalk, or street may be involved, California’s six-month government claim deadline can apply. This guide explains how to present a claim to the City of Costa Mesa.
Is it a City of Costa Mesa claim?
OCTA buses and stops go to OCTA (see how to file a claim against OCTA). Freeways such as the I-405 and SR-55 generally go to Caltrans (see our Caltrans claim guide). County facilities go to the County (see our County of Orange claim guide). When more than one may be involved, a timely claim to each can be required.
The six-month deadline
Government Code section 911.2 says a claim for death or for injury to a person or to personal property must be presented no later than six months after the cause of action accrues. Most other claims get one year. Accrual is a legal question, so do not guess at the start date.
How to present a claim to the City Clerk
Government Code section 915 says a claim to a local public entity may be delivered to its clerk, secretary, or auditor, or mailed to the clerk, secretary, auditor, or governing body at its principal office.
Costa Mesa City Hall is at 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. The City Clerk’s Office general number is (714) 754-5225. The City’s Risk Management page lists the same City Hall address and (714) 754-5000 for City Hall. Call the City Clerk before you file and ask for the current claim form and the correct filing desk. Keep proof of mailing, or ask for a date-stamped copy if you deliver it.
Form URL note: As of November 9, 2026, we could not confirm a public downloadable liability claim form URL on the City’s website, so this guide does not link a form file. Do not guess a form URL.
Government Code section 910 lists what every claim must show: the claimant’s name and address, the address for notices, the date, place, and other circumstances of the incident, a general description of the injury or loss, the name of any public employee who caused it if known, and the amount claimed or, for claims over $10,000, whether it would be a limited civil case.
What happens next
Under Government Code section 945.4, you generally cannot sue a public entity for money damages until a required claim has been presented and acted on, or deemed rejected. Section 912.4 generally gives the public entity 45 days to act. If it does not act, the claim is deemed rejected on the last day of that period.
After written notice of rejection, Government Code section 945.6 generally gives you six months from the date the notice is personally delivered or mailed to file suit. If no written notice is given, a two-year period from accrual can apply instead.
Missed the six-month window? Government Code section 911.4 allows a written application for leave to present a late claim within a reasonable time, not more than one year after accrual, with the proposed claim attached. Relief is not automatic. See our guide on a missed six-month government claim deadline.
Talk to us
Win Attorneys handles government claims and personal injury matters statewide from our only office in Tustin. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese. See our Tustin office page.
Call us at (562) 296-5380, reach us through our contact page, or start online with our intake form. Office: 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a claim against the City of Costa Mesa?
Present the claim to the City Clerk under Government Code section 915. City Hall is at 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Call the City Clerk at (714) 754-5225 for the current form and filing desk. We could not confirm a public downloadable claim form URL as of November 9, 2026.
Is there an online Costa Mesa claim form?
We did not find a confirmed public claim form URL on the City’s site during fact checking. Contact the City Clerk at (714) 754-5225 and ask for the current form before you file.
What is the deadline for an injury claim against Costa Mesa?
Government Code section 911.2 requires claims for death or injury to a person or personal property to be presented no later than six months after accrual. Most other claims have one year.
Does a claim against Costa Mesa cover an OCTA bus or a freeway crash?
No. OCTA and Caltrans are separate public entities with their own claim processes, and the County of Orange is separate from the City.
What happens after I present a claim?
Under Government Code section 912.4, the City generally has 45 days to act. If it does not act, the claim is often deemed rejected. After written rejection, section 945.6 generally gives six months to sue.