Napa · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Napa
Napa sets its own fence heights, accessory-structure limits and home-business rules. Fence limits depend on the setback, the fence design and vision triangles at driveways and intersections.
Key points
- Fence height: Napa limits fences to 3½ ft in front and side setbacks, 6 ft in side and rear yards, 8 ft with open lattice.
- Accessory height: City rule: residential accessory structures are limited to 15 ft, or 18 ft by director exception, and 50% of the side or rear yard.
- Home businesses: City rule: a home business may use 200 sq ft or 25% of the home and attached garage, whichever is larger; no non-residents employed.
Each rule below is marked Napa code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Napa code Napa limits fences to 3½ ft in front and side setbacks, 6 ft in side and rear yards, 8 ft with open lattice.
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Napa code City rule: residential accessory structures are limited to 15 ft, or 18 ft by director exception, and 50% of the side or rear yard.
All 8 Napa rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Napa code City rule: a home business may use 200 sq ft or 25% of the home and attached garage, whichever is larger; no non-residents employed.
All 10 Napa rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
Napa code Over 20 feet long or 85 inches wide or high: max 4 consecutive hours on public street, alley or right-of-way. No more than 4 consecutive hours; then it must move more than 1/4 mile for at least 72 hours.
All 3 Napa rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Napa code Expedited administrative review; the Building Official approves and issues all permits when the application meets the city checklist and requirements. Electronic submittal is allowed.
All 5 Napa rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
| Bees |
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Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
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| Building in a floodway |
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Building on a hillside
| Height on hillside lots |
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| When hillside rules apply |
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Park and impact fees for new homes
| How the park fee is set |
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| When the fee applies |
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Noise and construction hours
| Construction hours on weekdays |
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| Construction hours on weekends and holidays |
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Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Napa code Affordability lasts at least 45 years. Affordability lasts at least 55 years.
All 4 Napa rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Parking spaces required for homes
Napa code 9 by 19 feet 19 by 19 feet
All 19 Napa rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| How long an alarm may sound |
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| When a permit can be revoked |
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Signs on homes
Napa code 2 temporary noncommercial signs 8 square feet in area per sign
Historic homes
Napa code Demolition of a building over 45 years old needs historic clearance before a building permit Historic clearance, administrative certificate of appropriateness, or certificate of appropriateness is required before alteration
Other Napa rules on this
Napa's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Permit to remove a protected native tree (§ 12.45.090) — private property
- Occasional garage sales (§ 5.04.180) — owner or occupant of the home only
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Napa?
Napa's code: Allowed as an accessory use where zoning permits; not in the front setback; hive entrance behind 6-foot screening. (No side or rear setback is required. The suggested hive count follows the county beekeeping best management practices (BMPs).) (§ 17.52.055).
What are the rules for building in a Napa flood zone?
Napa's code: A floodplain permit is needed before any development project on land zoned :FP. (§ 17.38.050); Prohibited unless a floodway analysis by a registered engineer or architect shows no base flood elevation increase. (New development projects in the floodway.) (§ 17.38.080).
What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Napa?
Napa's code: Slopes of 15% or more. (Hillside areas where the :HS overlay district may apply.) (§ 17.40.020); At most 24 feet. (Hillside (:HS) overlay district; taller only with findings such as less grading or lot coverage, saved trees, or a lot that limits building size.) (§ 17.40.040).
What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Napa?
Napa's code: The city council sets it by resolution. (Orchard Avenue area park fee only.) (§ 15.72.020); Each new dwelling unit. (Orchard Avenue area park fee only; the developer pays.) (§ 15.72.020).
What are the noise rules and construction hours in Napa?
Napa's code: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. (No machine start-up before 8:00 a.m. Exempt: work on one's owned or rented home; agency public safety work. Other hours need City Manager permit.) (§ 8.08.025); 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends and legal holidays. (Unless a City Manager permit is obtained; does not apply to work on an existing home the person owns or rents.) (§ 8.08.025).
Can I run a family child care home in Napa?
California law sets this for every city, including Napa: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Napa?
Napa's code: An automatic shutoff device must stop the alarm within 20 minutes of initial activation (Alarm system that sounds a siren on the outside of the building) (§ 9.60.040); Three or more suspensions in any 12-month period without fixing the cause; false information on application; unpaid fees (Revocation; 6 or more false alarms in a calendar year is a ground for suspension of up to 365 days) (§ 9.60.130).
General information, not legal advice.
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