Chapter 17.16 — PUBLIC, QUASI-PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HEALTH FACILITIES (PQ), PUBLIC,…
Napa Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Napa
In addition to the general purposes listed in Chapter 17.02, the specific purposes of the public, quasi-public, parks and open space, and agricultural resource districts are as follows:
A.
To provide appropriately located land throughout the city for public facilities and parks. B.
To provide opportunities for recreational uses in public parks.
C.
To protect and conserve identified sensitive lands within the RUL.
D.
The additional purposes of each district follow:
1.
Public, Quasi-Public Schools and Health Facilities District (PQ). The public, quasi-public schools and health facilities district provides for public and quasi-public properties dedicated to community serving purposes, such as public schools of all levels, private schools with a significant enrollment, major community health facilities and related community service facilities. Public and quasipublic uses may be located in any zoning district in the city as a conditional use. This PQ district is intended for public and quasi-public uses which because of their size, location and significance are designated "Public Serving" in the General Plan.
The city's authority to regulate land use activities of other government entities is limited by state and federal law, thus applicability of local PQ zoning may only be established on a case-by-case basis. Because of the wide variety
of possible public and quasi-public uses, all public and quasipublic uses shall require a use permit, to the extent that such uses and/or entities are subject to the zoning authority of the city.
2.
Public, Quasi-Public District (PQ-P). This public, quasi-public district provides for publicly owned properties dedicated to community serving purposes, including government offices, public safety facilities and related community service facilities. Conference, exhibition, entertainment and other public gathering uses may also occur in large facilities such as those at the Napa Valley Expo. Public and quasi-public uses may also be located in any zoning district in the city as a conditional use. This PQ-P district is intended for public and quasi-public uses which because of their size, location and significance are designated "Public Serving" in the General Plan.
The city's authority to regulate land use activities of other government entities is limited by state and federal law, thus applicability of local PQ-P zoning may only be established on a case-by-case basis. Because of the wide variety of possible public and quasi-public uses, all public and quasi-public uses shall require a use permit, to the extent that such uses and/or entities are subject to the zoning authority of the city, except for emergency shelters which shall be permitted under state law (SB 2) provisions.
3.
Downtown Public (DP). The Downtown Public land use district provides for public and quasipublic uses dedicated to community-serving purposes such as government offices and related community service facilities. County uses such as the Napa County administrative and courthouse complex and adjoining jail are included in the Downtown Public district, as are uses that support Downtown commerce and living such as the public library, public parking facilities and Napa City Hall. The Downtown Public district also provides for appropriately located public lands devoted to public open spaces and trails.
4.
Parks and Open Space District (POS). The parks and open space district provides for appropriately located public lands throughout the city devoted to citywide, community and neighborhood parks and trails, and large tracts of publicly owned open space land including greenways, parkways and nature preserves. This district may also be applied to farms owned and operated by nonprofit organizations used for educational purposes and open to the public.
5.
Downtown Parks and Open Space (DPOS). The Downtown Parks and Open Space land use district provides for passive and active recreational uses, as well as act as an amenity for public gatherings and events downtown. 6.
Agricultural Resource District (AR). The agricultural resource district is applied to lands within the RUL designated "Resource Area" or "Greenbelt" by the Napa General Plan. These are sensitive lands within the RUL that require special standards due to viewshed, resource, habitat, geotechnical or other considerations that further the resource protection goals of the General Plan. Primary purposes are:
a.
To protect sensitive lands within the RUL that are not appropriate for urban development due to viewshed, resource, habitat, geotechnical or other considerations and are intended to remain unchanged or in very low intensity agricultural, private open space or residential use; b.
To retain large, agriculturally viable parcels and conserve the region's economically important agricultural resources;
c.
To meet Government Code requirements for open space zoning (in combination with the parks and open space district).
(O2012 4, 5/15/12)
| P = Permitted Use | C = Conditional Use | C = Conditional Use | C = Conditional Use | S = Specifc Standards Apply |
S = Specifc Standards Apply |
S = Specifc Standards Apply |
S = Specifc Standards Apply |
Blank = Not Allowed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoning Districts | PQ | PQ-P | DP | POS | DPOS | AR | Added Use Regulations | ||
| A. Public/Quasi-Public Uses | |||||||||
| 1. Public facilities | |||||||||
| Administrative ofces (city and county, special district, public utility, etc.) |
C | C | C | C | C | ||||
| Libraries, museums, and other cultural facilities |
C | C | C | C | |||||
| Public and utility facilities (corporation or storage yards, pump stations, utility substations, storm drainage ponds, water tanks, utility distribution facilities, etc) |
C | C | C* | C* | *Excluding corporation or storage yards and warehouses |
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| Safety facilities (police, fre or paramedic) |
C | C | C | ||||||
| Sewage or water treatment facilities, including wastewater ponds and irrigation areas |
C | C | C | ||||||
| 2. General | |||||||||
| Clubs and lodges, including for youth |
C | C | C | C | C | C | |||
| Funeral and interment services, including cemeteries |
C | ||||||||
| Hospitals and similar major medical facilities |
C | ||||||||
| Open space, including wildlife sanctuaries and similar |
P* | P* | C | P | C | P | *As an accessory use | ||
| Parks and recreation facilities, including docks, piers, etc. |
C** | C** | C** | C** | C** | C** | **P if part of an approved public park plan or other program adopted by City Council |
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| Recycling centers (> 500 sf or as principal use) |
C | C | |||||||
| Other public/quasi-public uses of an administrative, educational, religious, cultural, communications or public service nature, including |
C | C | C | C | C*** | C*** | ***Excluding maintenance or storage yards and warehouses |
||
| Zoning Districts | PQ | PQ-P | DP | POS | DPOS | AR | Added Use Regulations | ||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ||
| community care facilities not otherwise listed |
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| 3. Schools | |||||||||
| Parochial, private | C | C | *Such as, but not limited to, day care facilities, |
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| Public | P | P | churches, private schools, government and other ofces, art and dance studios, clubs and lodges, health clubs and ftness centers, business, inside storage, colleges and trade schools |
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| Adaptive reuse of closed school buildings and grounds, or when improvements are proposed for non-public school uses* |
C | ||||||||
| 4. Transportation facilities | |||||||||
| Parking facilities, commercial or publicly owned (5+ spaces) |
C | C | C* | C* | C* | *P if part of an approved public park plan or |
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| Transit or bus stations, transitways |
C | C | specifc program approved by City Council |
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| Helipads | C | C | C | ||||||
| B. Agriculture-Related Uses | |||||||||
| Agricultural processing facilities such as wineries, and their accessory facilities |
CS | See winery standards Ch. 17.52 |
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| Cultivated agriculture including, but not limited to, farming, horticulture, viticulture |
CS | CS | See standards Ch. 17.52 |
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| General livestock-based agriculture limited to low intensity grazing and raising of cattle, horses, ponies, donkeys, sheep, bees, goats, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and other small animals and fowl |
CS | CS | |||||||
| Grading or site changes including alteration of signifcant site features that, in the judgment of the Community Development Director, signifcantly alter the underlying character of the property |
C* | C** | *P if part of an approved public park plan or specifc program approved by City Council **P if part of an approved agricultural use wherein such grading was also approved |
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| Zoning Districts | PQ | PQ-P | DP | POS | DPOS | AR | Added Use Regulations | ||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ||
| Roadside stands | C | ||||||||
| C. Commercial Uses | |||||||||
| Animal care facilities | C | See standards Ch. 17.52 |
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| Bed and breakfast inns | CS | ||||||||
| Plant nurseries | C | ||||||||
| Recreation facilities, commercial | C* | C | C* | C* | |||||
| Private concessions in public parks |
C* | C | C* | C* | *P if part of an approved public park plan or specifc program approved by City Council. Examples include, but are not limited to, stables, |
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| Visitor centers | C* | C | C | C* | C | golf courses, campgrounds and RV parks |
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| D. Residential and Related Uses |
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| 1. Residential and mixed uses* |
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| Single-family detached residential |
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| 1 unit per lot | P | *Residential projects of | |||||||
| More than 1 unit per lot | C | 5+ units or equivalent in :FP food evacuation area |
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| Farm labor housing of any type except employee housing, large |
C | see standards Ch. 17.38 |
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| Caretaker's residence | C | C | C | ||||||
| Emergency shelters | P | ||||||||
| Employee housing, large | P | ||||||||
| 2. Day care | |||||||||
| Day care facility, child or adult (up to 14 children or 8 adults) |
P** | **In residential units only | |||||||
| Day care center (15 or more children or 9 or more adults) |
C | C | C | ||||||
| Residential care facilities | |||||||||
| Small (0-6 residents) | P** | ||||||||
| Large (7 or more residents) | C** | ||||||||
| Zoning Districts | Zoning Districts | PQ | PQ | PQ-P | PQ-P | DP | DP | POS | POS |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| E. Accessory Structures and Uses |
|||||||||
| Accessory structures and uses customarily accessory to a permitted or conditional use and contained on the same site |
CS*** | CS*** | CS*** | ||||||
| Beekeeping | PS | PS | PS | PS | |||||
| Cottage food operations | PS | PS | PS | ||||||
| Fences, hedges | PS | PS | PS |
| P = Permitted Use | C = Conditional Use | C = Conditional Use | C = Conditional Use | S = Specifc Standards Apply |
S = Specifc Standards Apply |
S = Specifc Standards Apply |
S = Specifc Standards Apply |
Blank = Not Allowed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor storage, screened | PS | PS | |||||||
| Recycling/solid waste areas | PS | PS | |||||||
| Recycling facility, small (<500 sf) |
PS | PS | PS | ||||||
| Satellite dishes | PS | PS | |||||||
| Signs | PS | PS | PS | ||||||
| F. Other Uses | |||||||||
| Conversion of residential rental units to nonresidential uses |
P | P | P | ||||||
| Nonresidential condominiums | C | C | |||||||
| Other similar permitted or conditional uses found consistent with the General Plan and applicable district pursuant to Chapter 17.04 |
P/C* | P/C* | P/C* | P/C* | |||||
| Temporary uses | PS/CS | PS/CS | PS/CS | PS/CS | |||||
| (O2012 4,5/15/12;O2013-3,5/21/13;O2014-3,3/4/14;O2019-001,1/15/19) | |||||||||
| Property Development Standards |
PQ | PQ- P |
DP | POS | DPOS | ||||
| Floor area ratio (FAR) and/or residential densities |
See General Plan for FARs and densities applicable to property |
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| Height—Main bldg.— Stories/height in feet, whichever is most restrictive |
NA* | NA* | NA | NA* | NA | ||||
| Property Development Standards |
Property Development Standards |
PQ | PQ- P |
DP | POS | DPOS | AR | Additional Standards | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
| Minimum lot area—Acres | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 20 acres |
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| Lot width (feet) at front setback line |
NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 150 | (2) | ||
| Lot frontage (feet) at front property line |
NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 50 | (3) | ||
| Front setback (feet) | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | 50 | *To be established by use permit or park plan |
||
| Side setback (feet) | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | 50 | |||
| Side yard (feet) | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | 20 | *To be established by use permit or park plan (5) |
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| Rear yard (feet) | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | NA* | 35 | |||
| Notes | |||||||||
| NA | = Not Applicable | ||||||||
| (1) | In the AR district, height up to 40 feet may be allowed improve the design of the structure. |
through a design review permit if it is found to | |||||||
| (2) | In the AR district, lot width may be reduced to not less than 50 feet on lots with divergent lot lines, such as those that front on the bulb of a cul-de-sac or a sharply curved street. |
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| (3) | In the AR district, lot frontage shall not be less than 40 feet for lots with divergent lot lines, as described in (2). |
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| (4) | PQ, PQ-P or POS district development proposed on land that abuts a RS, RI or RT district is subject to transitional standards described in Section 17.16.040. |
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| (5) | Any structure where agricultural animals are kept shall be located consistent with Section 17.52.050 (Agricultural cultivation and animal keeping). |
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| See Chapter 17.52 (Site and Use Regulations) for additional regulations pertaining to agricultural bufers, creeks and watercourses, historic preservation, noise, outdoor storage, recycling areas, wetlands and other site development standards. |
(O2012 4, 5/15/12)
A.
Design Guidelines. Design guidelines shall be referred to where applicable.
B.
Parking and Loading. On-site parking and loading shall be provided in accord with provisions of Chapter 17.54. C.
Accessory Structures. Accessory structures in the PQ, DPOS or POS districts shall initially be established by use permit or a park plan. Minor changes thereto may be approved through a design review permit. Accessory structures in the AR district shall meet accessory standards for residential districts described in Chapter 17.52.
D.
Screening of Trash, Outdoor Storage. See Chapter 17.52 for outdoor storage screening requirements.
E.
Rooftop Equipment. For nonresidential buildings, rooftop equipment shall be screened and integrated into the building architecture. Screens shall not disproportionately increase the mass of the building.
F.
Landscaping. All planting strips, yards, setbacks and other required open space areas (excluding open space lands intended to be conserved in a natural condition) shall be landscaped in accord with a landscape plan approved by the decision-making body, as part of the design review or other discretionary permit. All landscaping shall be maintained in a healthy, weed-free condition. Landscape maintenance agreements with the city may be required on sensitive sites.
G.
Transitional Standards. Where PQ or POS districts development is proposed on land which abuts residential RS, RI or RT district lands, the standards below shall be observed:
1.
Front or side setbacks shall be those required in the adjacent residential district, except when properties abut along rear lot lines;
2.
Design review shall identify potential impacts of the proposed project on the residential use (e.g., noise, privacy, visual) and utilize landscaped buffers consisting of a mix of trees and shrubs, six-foot solid masonry walls, building setbacks/stepbacks and/or other effective techniques to address such impacts.
H.
Street Trees. Street trees in rights-of-way may be required to be installed by the Community Resources Director in accordance with city standards.
I.
Public Works Improvements. Curb, gutter, sidewalk, street, drainage utility undergrounding and similar improvements may be required to be installed by the Public Works Director in accordance with Policy Resolution 27 or Public Works Department standard specifications.
J.
Lighting. Exterior lighting shall be directed or shielded so as to prevent glare onto public streets and residential properties.
K.
Noise. See Section 17.52.310, Noise standards.
L.
Airport Compatibility. Properties within Airport Land Use Compatibility Zones shall meet airport land use compatibility provisions described in Chapter 17.34.
M.
Emergency Shelters. In the PQ-P district, standards shall be established in accordance with state law.
N.
Properties located within the boundaries of the DP and DPOS districts of the Downtown Specific Plan shall comply with the site development standards set forth in the Downtown Specific Plan. (O2012 4, 5/15/12)
In addition to the standard findings required for use or design review permits, when considering a project in the AR District (designated Resource Area by the General Plan), the Planning Commission must find: A.
The project protects the natural features and visual attributes of the site and surroundings, including, but not limited to, riparian corridors, wetlands, hillsides and outcroppings, critical wildlife habitat, and agricultural lands outside the RUL.
B.
New construction, including structures, roads, grading and landscaping is designed to integrate with existing natural features of the site and surroundings with minimal impact to the underlying features intended for protection
by the AR zoning designation.
C.
Hazards posed by seismic conditions, landslides, erosion and runoff have been considered in the location and design of the project, and appropriate mitigations have been imposed to reduce significant impacts. (O2003-12; O2009 11)
New nonresidential structures, additions or exterior remodels or the subdivision of any lot shall require design review as described in Chapter 17.62 (Design Review Permits). The painting of walls with murals, wall graphics or unusual paint colors incompatible with their context also requires review. Residential development is subject to design review in accordance with Chapter 17.62, except that in the AR district, ALL accessory structures require design review. Signs require review in accordance with Chapter 17.55, Sign Ordinance. (O2003-12; O2009 11; O2019-001, 1/15/19)