Yountville · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Yountville
Yountville sets fence heights by yard, with lower limits in front yards and at corners, and allows taller open screens with approval. Moderate and major home businesses need a permit, and some uses are not allowed.
Key points
- Fence height: Yountville limits fences to 3 feet at the front property line or in the front yard, and 6 feet along rear or side lines.
- Home business: Yountville moderate home businesses need an administrative use permit, major ones a use permit; welding and repair of non-residents' vehicles are not allowed.
Each rule below is marked Yountville code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Yountville code Yountville limits fences to 3 feet at the front property line or in the front yard, and 6 feet along rear or side lines.
All 5 Yountville rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Yountville code Yountville moderate home businesses need an administrative use permit, major ones a use permit; welding and repair of non-residents' vehicles are not allowed.
All 10 Yountville rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
| EV charger permit |
|
|---|---|
| Review time |
|
Tree removal
Yountville code No permit needed for: a dead tree (the Town consulting arborist confirms it and the Planning Officer approves); removal approved in an earlier development entitlement; routine maintenance for tree health or property protection; or a tree the Planning Officer finds before removal to be a hazard because it is dying, diseased or damaged (verified in writing by a certified arborist or licensed tree surgeon), is a pyrophyte such as Monterey pine, Bishop pine, acacia or eucalyptus, or is damaging a utility that cannot be relocated where mitigation is not feasible Yes, a tree removal permit is required before removing any protected tree from private property.
All 9 Yountville rules on tree removal, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Yountville code Up to 2 hives of honeybees (Apis mellifera), or keeping Osmia bees. Up to 10 hives.
All 7 Yountville rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
|
|---|---|
| Building in a floodway |
|
| Height of the lowest floor |
|
Noise and construction hours
Yountville code 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
All 6 Yountville rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
Yountville code 0.5 footcandles at the property boundary. Full cut-off, fully shielded lights aimed down, with no light above the horizontal.
All 6 Yountville rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →
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 |
Trash and recycling carts
Yountville code Collection is mandatory. Self-haul only after certifying to the Town Manager that service is not needed and meeting listed criteria. Collection is not required.
All 5 Yountville rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Yountville rules on this
Yountville's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- SB 9 two-unit projects and urban lot splits (Ch. 17.158)
- Garage, yard and estate sales (Ch. 5.28)
- Development impact fees (Ch. 3.40)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Yountville?
Yountville's code: The permit is issued within 5 business days. (Small residential rooftop solar, after a complete application is found to meet the checklist and standard plan.) (§ 15.45.060); Administrative, nondiscretionary review; the Building Official approves when the application meets health and safety rules and the checklist. (Applies to electric vehicle charging stations.) (§ 15.43.060).
What are the rules for building in a Yountville flood zone?
Yountville's code: A development permit is needed before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes. (In any special flood hazard area.) (§ 15.48.030); The lowest floor must be 1 foot or more above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 Zones.) (§ 15.52.010).
Can I run a family child care home in Yountville?
California law sets this for every city, including Yountville: 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)).
General information, not legal advice.
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