Chapter 17.20 — PUBLIC AND OPEN SPACE ZONING DISTRICTS

Sections:

• 17.20.010 Purpose and applicability. 17.20.020 Use regulations.

• 17.20.030 Development standards.

• 17.20.040 Supplemental standards.

This chapter provides civic spaces throughout the city to properly serve the needs of residents and provide open space for recreation and to conserve natural habitats. This chapter establishes use regulations, development standards, and design standards for the Public and Quasi-Public, Parks and Recreation, and Open Space zoning districts as follows:

Public and Quasi—Public (PQP). The PQP zone is intended to provide for government-owned facilities, public and private schools and quasi-public uses such as churches and cemeteries, government buildings, utilities, libraries,

The St. Helena Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 26-4, passed May 12, 2026.

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and emergency transportation service. This zone implements the public/quasi-public general plan land use designation.

Parks and Recreation (PR). The PR zone is intended to provide for public parklands primarily designed for public recreation. It is applied to existing public parks, as well as passive open spaces. This zone implements the parks and recreation general plan land use designation.

Open Space (OS). The OS zone is intended to provide for natural open space areas that are devoted to the preservation of natural resources, the managed production of resources, outdoor recreation or public health and safety. Areas designated for open space are all associated with stream corridors that pass through or adjacent to the city including the Napa River, Sulphur Springs Creek, York Creek and Spring Creek. This zone implements the open space general plan land use designation. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

Table 17.20.020(A): Use Regulations—Public and Open Space Zoning Districts, lists the uses permitted (“P”), permitted with a minor use permit (“MUP”) granted by a staff-level review, and permitted with a conditional use permit (“CUP”) granted at a public hearing. The right-hand column provides references to additional regulations beyond those of the base zoning district development and design standards.

Table 17.20.020(A). Use Regulations—Public and Open Space Zoning Districts

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Use Classification PQP PR OS Additional Regulations
“P” = Permitted; “MUP” = Minor Use Permit; “CUP” = Conditional Use Permit; “—” = Use Not Allowed
Residential Uses
Caretaker residence — —
MUP [1 ]
Commercial Uses
Funeral homes and mortuaries CUP — —
Transportation, Communications and Utilities
Helipad CUP — —
Public services, major CUP — —
Public services, minor MUP MUP MUP
Solar energy systems Sec. 17.22.240, Solar energy systems
Telecommunication Sec. 17.22.270, Wireless telecommunication facilities
Agricultural and Extractive Uses
Community garden CUP CUP — Sec. 17.22.100, Community
gardens
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The St. Helena Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 26-4, passed May 12, 2026.

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Table 17.20.020(A). Use Regulations—Public and Open Space Zoning Districts

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Use Classification PQP PR OS Additional Regulations
“P” = Permitted; “MUP” = Minor Use Permit; “CUP” = Conditional Use Permit; “—” = Use Not Allowed
Gravel mining operations [2 ] — — CUP
Public/Institutional Uses
Amphitheater CUP CUP —
Cemeteries CUP — —
Colleges and trade schools CUP — —
Community assembly CUP — —
Cultural institution and museum CUP CUP —
Government offices CUP — —
Recreational facilities, active — CUP —
Recreational facilities, passive — P CUP
Schools CUP CUP —
Wildlife sanctuaries — P P
Accessory Uses—See also Sec. 17.22.020, Accessory uses
Beekeeping P P P Sec. 17.22.070, Beekeeping
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End Notes:

1 The residence must be occupied by employees and their immediate families, employed for the purpose of on-site management, maintenance, or upkeep. Temporary business guests and employees on temporary assignment are also allowed to reside in the unit.

2 Provided such operations were approved by the city prior to October 1, 1993, and are productive and economically viable.

(Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

Table 17.20.030(B): Development Standards—Public and Open Space Zoning Districts, establishes the development standards for the Public and Open Space zoning districts. The numbers in each illustration refer to corresponding regulations in the table.

The St. Helena Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 26-4, passed May 12, 2026.

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Table 17.20.030(B). Development Standards—Public and Open Space Zoning

Districts

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Standard PQP PR OS Key
Floor Area Ratio 0.15—0.5 None None
Max. Lot Coverage 50% 50% 10% or
20,000 sq ft,
whichever
is less
Max. Building Height 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft
Setbacks
Front Setback 15 ft 75 ft 35 ft ❶
Min. Street Side Setback 10 ft 50 ft 20 ft ❷
Min. Interior Side Setback 10 ft 50 ft 10 ft ❸
Min. Rear Setback 15 ft 75 ft 40 ft ❹
Min. Setback from Abutting Waterway Min. 50 ft from top of bank of Napa
River
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The St. Helena Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 26-4, passed May 12, 2026.

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Table 17.20.030(B). Development Standards—Public and Open Space Zoning

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Districts
Standard PQP PR OS Key
Min. 20 ft from top of bank of all other
waterways
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(Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

A. General Standards. All development is subject to the provisions of Division IV of this title, Citywide Standards.

B. Trash Enclosures. Unless specifically waived by the design review process described in Chapter 17.05, Planning Permits and Approvals, all projects must have a trash enclosure constructed of opaque materials and sufficiently sized to permit the storage, removal and replacement of standard commercial-size trash bins. No collection, storage or stacking of garbage, trash and refuse is permitted outside the trash enclosure. This requirement does not preclude the placement of individual trash containers on the parcel.

C. Development in the OS District. Limited development is permitted on open space-designated parcels along Sulphur Springs Creek west of the Crane Avenue Bridge. The development potential of open space-designated parcels will be determined in accordance with standards governing parcels designated agriculture in the general plan and zoned A-20. All development must be outside the stream corridor and structures must be set back from the creek’s edge consistent with the base standards, the Flood Plain Overlay district, and the California Department of Fish and Game standards. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))