40 local rules on file · Pop. 49 · Napa County
Showing ordinances that apply to Oakville, CA
Oakville is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 49 in Napa County, California. Because Oakville is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Napa County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Napa County may have different rules.
Unincorporated Napa County regulates noise under County Code Chapter 8.16 (Noise Control Regulations). Sections 8.16.060 and 8.16.070 set interior and exterior noise limits using a tabular dBA standard tied to land-use category. Section 8.16.080 enumerates specific prohibited noises that apply at all hours when they create a disturbance across a property line. The General Plan Noise Element supplements the code, and the Sheriff and Code Compliance enforce alongside California Penal Code Section 415.
Napa County Code §8.16.080 prohibits operating any loudspeaker or amplified-sound device when the sound creates a noise disturbance or violates the exterior limits in §8.16.070, except where a variance has been issued by the Noise Control Officer. Wineries are subject to Chapter 8.16 and additionally controlled by Use Permit Conditions of Approval - amplified outdoor music is not typically approved at Napa Valley wineries and requires explicit County permission.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Napa County ordinances.
Napa County Code Chapter 18.108 (Conservation Regulations), as amended by the 2019 Water Quality and Tree Protection Ordinance, requires permits for tree removal in stream setbacks and sensitive watershed areas, imposes mitigation ratios for cut oaks, and requires retention of at least 70% of pre-1993 tree canopy in sensitive domestic water supply drainages. Note: Measure C (Oak Woodland Initiative, 2018) narrowly failed at the ballot.
Napa County urges residents to limit lawn watering and prioritize tree care during dry periods. Most water restrictions are imposed by individual retail providers — the City of Napa, Calistoga, St. Helena, American Canyon, and Yountville — each of which adopts its own Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The City of Napa currently bans conventional spray irrigation except on two assigned days per week.
Napa County Code Chapter 8.36 (Fire Protection — Fire Hazard Abatement) requires property owners to clear weeds, dry grass, brush, dead trees, and rubbish that constitute a fire hazard. The Napa County Fire Marshal conducts annual inspections, issues abatement notices, and may have nuisance vegetation removed at the owner's expense under §8.36.100.
Napa County does not impose a numeric inch-based grass height limit on ornamental lawns. Instead, Chapter 8.36 (Fire Protection — Fire Hazard Abatement) regulates combustible dry grass and weeds, requiring property owners to clear or reduce flammable vegetation within 100 feet of structures and along roadsides as part of defensible space.
Napa County does not impose breed-specific restrictions. The County's animal control ordinance targets behavior, not breed, under Chapter 6.04 and related dangerous/vicious dog provisions. California Food and Agricultural Code §31683 also preempts most breed-specific bans, except for mandatory spay/neuter programs.
Napa County Code §18.08.040 defines agriculture broadly to include raising cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs, rabbits, and poultry. Chickens and livestock are generally allowed on agricultural and rural parcels, subject to a cap of 25 roosters per acre (maximum 100 per legal parcel) before an administrative permit is required.
Napa County Code Chapter 6.04 (Animal Control and Rabies Prevention) prohibits dogs over four months of age from running at large in unincorporated Napa County. Section 6.04.190 makes it unlawful to let a dog run loose on any public street, highway, or another person's property without consent.
Napa County permits beekeeping under Chapter 6.12 (Beehives) of the County Code, enacted by Ordinance 1377. Apiaries must use movable-frame hives in sound condition and be screened from neighboring dwellings and public walkways. All beekeepers must register hives annually with the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner under California Food and Agricultural Code §29040.
Napa County Code Chapter 8.36 (Fire Protection - Fire Hazard Abatement), as amended by Ordinance 1467, requires defensible space around all structures and treats unmaintained vegetation as a public nuisance subject to abatement. California Public Resources Code Section 4291 layers state-level 100-foot clearance requirements in the State Responsibility Area.
Napa County allows small recreational fires and approved gas fire features under the California Fire Code as adopted in Napa County Code Chapter 15.32, but no-burn day restrictions from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) apply to wood-burning fire pits, and Red Flag Warnings from CAL FIRE can prohibit any open flame in the wildland-urban interface.
Napa County contains extensive Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones across the Vaca Mountains, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, and the Mayacamas Range, mapped by CAL FIRE under the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone update. New construction in mapped zones must comply with California Building Code Chapter 7A wildfire-exposure standards, adopted locally through Napa County Code Chapter 15.32.
All fireworks, including state-classified safe-and-sane devices, are prohibited in unincorporated Napa County under Napa County Code Chapter 8.28 (Fireworks). California Health and Safety Code 12500-12728 separately prohibits dangerous fireworks statewide, and no Napa County jurisdiction has authorized safe-and-sane sales by ordinance.
All outdoor burning in unincorporated Napa County is regulated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District under BAAQMD Regulation 5 (Open Burning), with concurrent CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit notification required. Wood burning is banned on Spare the Air days, and agricultural burning is only allowed on BAAQMD-designated burn days within permissive seasons.
Commercial vehicle parking in unincorporated Napa County is regulated through Napa County Code Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic), Title 18 (Zoning), and California Vehicle Code Section 22507.5, which authorizes local restrictions on overnight parking of commercial vehicles. Overnight parking of commercial vehicles (typically over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, or over a certain length) on public roads in residential areas is restricted; on private property, commercial vehicle storage in residential zones is generally limited to vehicles used by the resident for their employment, with multiple commercial vehicles or commercial-fleet storage requiring a use permit. Agricultural-purpose vehicles (vineyard tractors, harvest trucks) in AP and AW zones are broadly permitted.
Abandoned vehicles in unincorporated Napa County are addressed under California Vehicle Code Sections 22650-22711 (Removal of Parked and Abandoned Vehicles) and Napa County Code Title 10. Vehicles left on public roads for 72 or more consecutive hours can be towed under Cal. Veh. Code 22651(o). Abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private property are a public nuisance under Cal. Veh. Code 22660 and can be abated through Napa County's vehicle-abatement process. Napa County participates in the Service Authority for Abatement of Abandoned Vehicles (SAAAV) program funded by a $1 DMV registration surcharge. Report abandoned vehicles to the Napa County Sheriff non-emergency line or CHP for state highways.
Driveways in unincorporated Napa County are regulated through Napa County Code Title 12 (Streets, Sidewalks, and Public Places) for encroachment permits at the public-right-of-way connection, Title 18 (Zoning) for driveway location and parking surface standards, and Title 15 (Buildings) for grading and drainage when driveway construction triggers grading thresholds. An encroachment permit from Napa County Public Works is required for any new driveway approach connecting to a county road. Rural driveways in fire-hazard areas must meet California Fire Code and Napa County fire-access standards: minimum 20-foot width for two-way access roads serving multiple homes (or 12-foot one-way), maximum grade typically 16 percent, and adequate turnarounds for fire apparatus.
Unincorporated Napa County regulates RV and boat parking on private property through Napa County Code Title 18 (Zoning) general regulations on outdoor storage and through Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) for parking on public roads. RVs and boats may generally be parked on a private residential parcel behind the front-yard setback line or in a side/rear yard, screened from public view where required by the zoning district. Living in a parked RV is prohibited except as authorized temporary construction housing during an active building permit, or under disaster-declaration provisions. Parking an RV or boat trailer overnight on a public road in unincorporated areas is restricted under Cal. Veh. Code Section 22651(o) and county parking standards.
In unincorporated Napa County, converting an attached or detached garage to habitable living space is treated as a conversion ADU or JADU under Napa County Code Title 18, Chapter 18.104, Section 18.104.180. Conversion ADUs are exempt from minimum setback requirements (they retain the existing structure's setbacks) and from replacement parking under California Government Code Section 65852.2(a)(1)(D)(xi). JADU conversions within an attached garage are capped at 500 square feet and require owner occupancy. A building permit is required from Napa County PBES, and the conversion must meet California Building Code requirements for habitable space (ceiling height, light, ventilation, egress, energy code).
Napa County's ADU and JADU ordinance is codified at Napa County Code Title 18 (Zoning), Chapter 18.104, Section 18.104.180. Detached ADUs are capped at 1,200 square feet and 16 feet in height (taller allowed by administrative permit up to underlying zoning), with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. JADUs are capped at 500 square feet within an existing single-family dwelling. Critically, in the AP (Agricultural Preserve) zone - the 1968 Williamson Act preserve that protects Napa's wine industry - only JADUs are allowed, not ADUs. The less restrictive AW (Agricultural Watershed) zone and all residential districts permit full ADUs. State law (California Government Code Sections 65852.2 and 65852.22) sets the baseline ministerial standards.
In unincorporated Napa County, detached one-story accessory structures (sheds, pump houses, small workshops) that do not exceed 120 square feet of floor area and are not used for habitation, sleeping, or sanitation do not require a building permit under California Building Code Section 105.2 (Item 1), as adopted by Napa County. Larger sheds and any structure with electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work require a building permit from Napa County Planning, Building and Environmental Services (PBES). Zoning setbacks, height limits, and lot coverage standards in Napa County Code Title 18 still apply even to permit-exempt sheds.
Unincorporated Napa County imposes a 13% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on stays of 30 consecutive days or less under Napa County Code Chapter 3.32, plus a 2% Tourism Business Improvement District assessment reported concurrently. Lodging operators must register with the County Auditor-Controller, post the Certificate of Authority on the premises, and remit quarterly. Although STRs of dwelling units are themselves prohibited under Section 18.104.410, the county may still collect back TOT, penalty, and interest under Section 3.32.080 from anyone who operates an unpermitted STR.
Because Napa County Code Section 18.104.410 prohibits short-term vacation rentals of dwelling units in the unincorporated county, there is no county-published occupancy schedule, no per-bedroom cap, and no daytime-event headcount for hosts to follow. The threshold is binary: any commercial use of a dwelling unit for under 30 consecutive days is itself the violation. Occupancy rules in the California Building Code and standard residential nuisance provisions still apply to occupants.
Unincorporated Napa County prohibits short-term vacation rentals of dwelling units under Napa County Code Section 18.104.410, which bars 'transient commercial occupancies of dwelling units' for any commercial use lasting fewer than 30 consecutive days. The ban applies countywide outside the incorporated cities (Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga, Yountville, American Canyon); only legally permitted bed and breakfast establishments, hotels, motels, residential care facilities, family day care homes, and farm labor camps are exempt. There is no permit pathway to operate a new vacation rental of a house, cottage, or guest unit in unincorporated areas.
Napa County does not operate a short-term rental registration or licensing program for unincorporated areas because Section 18.104.410 prohibits the underlying use. There is no platform-host registry, no permit number to display on listings, and no annual renewal pathway. Operators who collect a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate under Code Chapter 3.32 are not thereby authorized to operate an STR; the TOT certificate and the zoning prohibition operate independently.
Because Napa County Code Section 18.104.410 prohibits short-term vacation rentals of dwelling units in unincorporated areas, the county has no STR-specific quiet-hours or decibel schedule for hosts to follow. Any commercial transient occupancy is itself a zoning violation, and conventional residential noise, nuisance, and disturbing-the-peace provisions apply to occupants regardless of how the property is being rented. Complaints route to Napa County Code Compliance and the Sheriff's Office.
Under California Building Code Section 105.2 (Item 2), as adopted by Napa County Code Title 15, fences not over 6 feet (or 7 feet, depending on the CBC edition currently adopted) do not require a building permit. Taller fences, masonry walls over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing, and any fence that retains earth (retaining wall) require a building permit from Napa County PBES. Even permit-exempt fences must comply with Title 18 zoning standards, sight-distance rules, and any homeowners-association CC&R restrictions.
In unincorporated Napa County, fences not exceeding 6 feet in height generally do not require a building permit under California Building Code Section 105.2 (Item 2), as adopted by Napa County Code Title 15. Fences over 6 feet (often over 7 feet, depending on which CBC edition the County has adopted) require a building permit. Zoning standards in Napa County Code Title 18 set additional limits: front-yard fences are typically capped at 3 to 4 feet, side and rear yard fences at 6 feet, with sight-distance triangles required at corners and driveways. California Civil Code Section 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) governs cost-sharing between adjoining residential owners.
Napa County's parks and open space lands are operated primarily by the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District (independent special district) and the California State Parks system (Bothe-Napa Valley, Robert Louis Stevenson). Most regional parks and open-space preserves are open dawn to dusk - typical posted hours run from 8 a.m. to sunset. After-hours presence is treated as trespass or a violation of posted regulations, and the County's Chapter 9.08 juvenile curfew separately covers minors in parks during nighttime hours.
Napa County Code Chapter 9.08 (Curfew for Minors) prohibits minors from being in or upon any public place in unincorporated Napa County during nighttime curfew hours unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or engaged in a specifically exempted activity. Violations are misdemeanors handled under California juvenile court law and procedure per §9.08.020.
Napa County administers floodplain development under Napa County Code Chapter 16.04 (Flood Management) and participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. The county holds a FEMA Community Rating System class 7, providing flood insurance premium discounts. Napa River, Napa Creek, Conn Creek, and Dry Creek define the principal Special Flood Hazard Areas.
Stormwater discharges in unincorporated Napa County are regulated through the Napa Countywide Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program, the State Construction General Permit, and Napa County Construction Site Runoff Control Requirements adopted by the Board of Supervisors on December 12, 2006. Permit Sonoma equivalents do not apply; Napa County Public Works Engineering Division administers locally.
Napa County regulates erosion control through Napa County Code Chapter 18.108 (Conservation Regulations) and Chapter 13.15 (Grading Control). Any agricultural earthmoving, grading, or vineyard replanting on slopes over five percent requires an approved Erosion Control Plan from the Napa County Conservation Division before work begins.
Unincorporated Napa County has not adopted a local just-cause eviction ordinance; tenant protections in the unincorporated county are governed by California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, codified at Civil Code Sections 1946.2 and 1947.12). AB 1482 requires either an at-fault or no-fault statutory reason for eviction after 12 months of tenancy, mandates relocation assistance for no-fault terminations, and applies to most multifamily properties more than 15 years old. Single-family homes and condos owned by individuals (not corporations or REITs) remain exempt from the just-cause requirement.
Unincorporated Napa County has not adopted a local rent-stabilization or rent-control ordinance. The applicable cap is the California statewide Tenant Protection Act rent ceiling at Civil Code Section 1947.12 (AB 1482, 2019), which limits annual rent increases on covered units to 5% plus the regional CPI, not to exceed 10% in any 12-month period. Single-family homes and condos owned by natural persons, units in housing less than 15 years old (rolling), and owner-occupied duplexes are exempt from the cap if the landlord serves the prescribed AB 1482 exemption notice.