The community of Del Mar Mesa consists of 2,042 acres located in the North City east of Carmel Valley and north of Los Peñasquitos Canyon approximately 4 miles from the coast. Del Mar Mesa is developing as a semi-rural community of large homes, a golf-course, and a resort hotel consistent with existing agricultural zoning and Future Urbanizing general plan status of the area.

A large portion of the eastern end of the community is being conserved as open space under the City's Multiple Species Conservation Program. Visual reminders of an earlier agricultural history include remnants of eucalyptus groves that were planted around the farmsteads dating to the late 1800s. Earlier inhabitants, the La Jolla and subsequent Ipai peoples, left cultural artifacts within nearby Carmel Valley.

Farming continued within Shaw Valley and portions of the mesa until the 1980s and horse ranching is still practiced. With the adoption of the Specific Plan in 1996, subdivision of the western portion of the community began while the City began open space acquisition of habitat within the eastern portion. New development is expected to preserve the rural, open character of the community and the Specific Plan places regulations on lot sizes, lighting, fencing and street design.