Chapter 17.28 — PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Sections:

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

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Title 17 Zoning Code | St. Helena Municipal Code

This chapter has been adopted to:

A. Establish permissible limits and permit objective measurement of nuisances, hazards, and objectionable conditions;

B. Ensure that all uses will provide necessary control measures to protect the community from nuisances, hazards, and objectionable conditions; and

• C. Protect industry from arbitrary exclusion from the city. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

A. The standards of this chapter shall apply to all uses and properties existing in the city at the time of adoption of this title.

B. Activities that generate odor, fumes, vibration, glare, dust, water or air pollution, fire or explosive hazard, and visual impact shall be subject to conditional use permit conditions (see Section 17.05.020, Conditional use permit (CUP)), to ensure that the public health, safety, and welfare are not compromised. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

Uses constituting or resulting in public or private nuisance because of the emission of any smoke, dust, gas, odor, fumes, noise, vibration, radioactive or fissionable material, or refuse material are specifically prohibited in the city. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

Measurements necessary for determining compliance with the standards of this chapter shall be taken at the lot line of the establishment or use that is the source of a potentially objectionable condition, hazard, or nuisance. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

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

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Title 17 Zoning Code | St. Helena Municipal Code

Uses, activities, and processes shall not operate in a manner that emits excessive dust, fumes, smoke, or particulate matter, unless authorized under federal, state, or local law. Sources of air emissions shall comply with all rules established by the Environmental Protection Agency (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40), the California Air Resource Board, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

No use, activity or process shall cause electromagnetic interference with normal radio and television reception, or with the function of other electronic equipment beyond the lot line of the site in which it is situated. All uses, activities and processes shall comply with applicable Federal Communications Commission regulations. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

All activities, processes and uses involving the use of, or storage of, flammable and explosive materials shall be provided with adequate safety devices against the hazard of fire and explosion. Firefighting and fire suppression equipment and devices standard in industry shall be approved by the fire chief. All incineration is prohibited with the exception of those substances such as, but not limited to, chemicals, insecticides, hospital materials and waste products, required by law to be disposed of by burning and deemed a practical necessity by the fire chief. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

A. The use, handling, storage and transportation of hazardous and extremely hazardous materials shall comply with the provisions of the California Hazardous Materials Regulations and the California Fire and Building Codes, as well as the laws and regulations of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the County Environmental Health Agency.

• B. Industrial (I) District.

1. No hazardous or flammable materials shall be stored outside of the building without a proper storage container.

2. A business plan shall be filed annually with the County of Napa Hazardous Material Section of the Department of Environmental Management. A copy of the approval by the county shall be submitted to the community development director. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

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

Page 306 of 384

Title 17 Zoning Code | St. Helena Municipal Code

Uses, activities, and processes shall not produce any emissions of heat or humidity that cause distress, physical discomfort, or injury to a reasonable person, or interfere with ability to perform work tasks or conduct other customary activities. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

A. Discharges to Surface Water, Sewers or Ground. Liquids and solids of any kind shall not be discharged, either directly or indirectly, into a public or private body of water (surface waters), storm drain or sanitary sewage system, watercourse, or into the ground, except in compliance with applicable regulations of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.

B. Containment. Wastes shall be handled and stored so as to prevent nuisances, health, safety and fire hazards, and to facilitate recycling. Closed containers shall be provided and used for the storage of any materials which by their nature are combustible, volatile, dust, or odor producing or edible or attractive to rodents, vermin, or insects.

C. Incineration. There shall be no rubbish or refuse incineration on the premises with the exception of those materials and disposal processes covered in Section 17.28.070, Fire and explosive hazards.

D. Winery (W) District. Winery operations shall generate no discernible odors of sewerage or putrefying organic material origin, other than normal fermentation odors, at the property lines. For additional waste disposal standards specific to the W district, see Section 17.19.040, Supplemental standards. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))

A. No vibration shall be produced that is transmitted through the ground and is discernible without the aid of instruments at the lot lines of the site. Vibrations from temporary construction, demolition, and vehicles that enter and leave the subject parcel (e.g., construction equipment, trains, trucks, etc.) are exempt from this standard.

B. An acoustic study shall be required for any proposed development within two hundred (200) feet of railroad track. Measures may be required to ensure that vibration impacts remain below acceptable levels. (Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))