Chapter 17.33

DEFINITIONS OF USES

Sections:

17.33.010 Definitions.

This chapter provides definitions for all uses established in the use tables in Division III of this title, District Regulations. Refer to Chapter 17.32, Definitions of Terms, for definitions of the terms commonly used throughout this title.

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). See Section 17.22.030, Accessory dwelling units.

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

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“Active agricultural use” includes animal husbandry, animal keeping, beekeeping, and cultivated agriculture.

“Adult entertainment” means an establishment of concern that, as a regular and substantial course of conduct, offers, sells or distributes adult-oriented merchandise, or that offers to its patrons materials, products, merchandise, services, entertainment or performances that have sexual arousal, sexual gratification, and/or sexual stimulation as their dominant theme, or are characterized by an emphasis on specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas and are not customarily open to the general public because they exclude minors by virtue of their age. This classification does not include any establishment offering professional services conducted, operated, or supervised by medical practitioners, physical therapists, nurses, chiropractors, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family counselors, osteopaths, and persons holding licenses or certificates under applicable state law or accreditation from recognized programs when performing functions pursuant to the respective license or certificate.

“Agricultural employee housing” means employee housing as set forth in California Health and Safety Code Section 17008 for farmworkers.

“Agricultural supply sales” means an establishment or place of business primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale sale from the premises of farm supply, feed, grain, fertilizers, pesticides, and similar goods as well as the provision of agriculturally related services with incidental storage on a lot other than where the service is rendered.

Agriculture.

“Animal husbandry” means the use of land for the care and raising of livestock, equine, poultry, and dairy animals. This also includes any animal-related production uses incidental to the foregoing, including processing, drying, storage, and sales, excluding animal slaughter, meat cutting and packing, stockyards or the commercial feeding of garbage or offal to swine or other animals.

“Animal keeping” means the raising or keeping of domestic animals as provided in Title 6, Animals, and Section 17.22.060, Animal keeping.

“Beekeeping” means the keeping or propagation of honeybee hives for collection of honey or other bee products.

“Cultivated agriculture” means the planting, growing, and harvesting of crops or plants, or the preparation of land for this purpose, of more than one-half acre of land for viticulture, horticulture, pasturage, floriculture, or similar farming where a crop or final product is produced (but not necessarily offered for sale) for consumption.

“Amphitheater” means an open building with a central space surrounded by tiers of seats for spectators, for the presentation of dramatic, sporting, or other events.

“Animal boarding facility/kennel” means a facility for keeping, boarding, training, breeding, or maintaining, generally overnight or in excess of twenty-four (24) hours, animals not owned by the owner or operator of the facility.

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

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Automobile/Vehicle Sales and Services.

“Auto rental” means an establishment providing for the rental of automobiles, motorcycles, or other vehicles. Typical uses include car rental agencies. Excludes large vehicles and equipment.

“Auto sales” means a retail or wholesale establishment for the display and sale of new or used automobiles, small trucks and vans, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles. Excludes large vehicles and equipment.

“Auto service and repair” means the service and repair of automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, motor homes, boats, and recreational vehicles, including the incidental sale, installation, and servicing of related equipment and parts.

“Car wash” means a facility for and a process involving the washing or cleaning of automobiles or other motor vehicles. A car wash may, but need not, include drying facilities. “Car wash” does not include a casual or occasional use of the premises to wash or clean automobiles or other motor vehicles that is done as a convenience or accommodation to customers or other persons and that constitutes a secondary use.

“Large equipment sales, service, and rental” means sales, servicing, rental, fueling, and washing of large trucks, trailers, tractors, and other equipment used for construction, moving, farming/agricultural, or landscape gardening activities.

“Service station” means an establishment primarily engaged in retailing automotive fuels or retailing these fuels in combination with activities, such as providing minor automobile vehicle repair services; selling automotive oils, replacement parts, and accessories; or providing incidental food and retail services. Major motor vehicle repair (engine rebuilding or reconditioning of engines, motor vehicles or trailers; collision service, including body, frame or fender repair; over-all painting) is not permitted. This facility may include a “mini-mart” or a convenience store that sell products, merchandise, or services that are ancillary to the primary use related to the operation of motor vehicles.

“Towing and impound yard” means an establishment primarily engaged in towing light or heavy motor vehicles, both local and long distance. This establishment may provide incidental services, such as vehicle storage and emergency road repair services.

“Bank or financial institution” means a financial institution providing retail banking services. This classification includes only institutions that serve walk-in customers or clients, including banks, savings and loan institutions, check-cashing services, and credit unions. Includes facilities that provide self-serve facilities; excludes drivethrough facilities.

Business Services.

“Cleaning and janitorial services” means an establishment that offers professional cleaning services.

“Equipment rental and leasing” means a service establishment that may offer a wide variety of household and business equipment, furniture, and materials for rental or leasing.

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

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“General business services” means an establishment primarily engaged in providing personal services and commercial services to other businesses on a fee or contract basis, including advertising and mailing, legal document services, model building, and taxi services or delivery services with two or fewer fleet vehicles on site.

“Printing and copy services” means an establishment providing printed or copied materials from digital or hard copy format originals, including printing and distribution of envelopes, business cards, and similar business products.

“Security services” means a service establishment that offers monitoring, theft prevention, or protection of individuals or property.

“Caretaker residence” means a building which is used as a residence by a security guard or caretaker of a commercial, industrial, public, or semi-public use, which is located on or adjacent to the premises occupied by the use, and which is reasonably necessary to provide adequate security for the use.

“Catering” means an accessory service to a restaurant that provides food or beverages at social events or other large gatherings.

“Cemetery” means an establishment primarily engaged in operating sites or structures reserved for the interment of human or animal remains, including mausoleums, burial places, and memorial gardens.

“Cinema/theater” means a facility for the indoor display of motion pictures on single or multiple screens and stage productions such as plays, ballets, and musical performances. This classification may include incidental food and beverage service to patrons as well as an auditorium within a building.

“College or trade school” means an institution of higher education primarily for adults providing curricula of a general, religious, or professional nature, granting degrees or professional certifications and including junior colleges, business and computer schools, management training, and technical and trade schools. This classification excludes instructional services.

“Commercial laundry” means a facility where articles of fabric are laundered by commercial grade machinery. Does not include laundromat, self service.

Communication Facility.

“Audio/video recording studio” means an indoor facility including radio, television or music recording studios.

Telecommunications. See Section 17.22.270, Wireless telecommunication facilities.

“Community assembly” means a facility for public or private meetings and gatherings, including community centers, union halls, places of worship, meeting halls, and membership organizations. This classification includes the use of functionally related facilities for the use of members and attendees, such as kitchens, multipurpose rooms, classrooms, and storage. Includes social halls, lodges, fraternal organizations, and clubs when owned and operated by nonprofit organizations.

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

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“Community garden” means an area where neighbors and residents have the opportunity to contribute to and manage the cultivation of plants, herbs, vegetables, and fruits. May consist of individually tended plots on a shared parcel or may be communal on a single plot.

“Contractor shop” means an establishment for specialized business activities related to building construction. This classification includes establishments for trades such as painting, carpentry, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, roofing, landscaping, cabinetmaking, and sign-making.

“Contractor’s office and showroom” means an office or showroom of a business related to building construction. This classification excludes storage yards.

“Contractor’s yard” means premises used by any person for the storage, maintenance, repair and processing of equipment, materials and other items involved in construction of physical facilities or in the operation of a fleet of rolling stock.

“Cottage food operation” means an enterprise where an individual prepares or packages non-potentially hazardous foods in his or her private home for sale to consumers and as it is defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 113758.

“Crop services” means an establishment that provides agriculturally related services including pesticide application and tree maintenance.

“Cultural institution” means a public or private institution and/or associated facility engaged in activities to promote aesthetic and educational interest among the community that are open to the public on a regular basis. This classification includes performing arts facilities, community centers, arenas, auditoriums, event and conference spaces, spaces for display or preservation of objects of interest in the arts or sciences, libraries, museums, and historical sites. This classification excludes schools or institutions of higher education providing curricula of a general nature (see “College or trade school”).

“Custom and artisan manufacturing” means an establishment primarily engaged in on-site production of goods by hand manufacturing or artistic endeavor, which involves only the use of hand tools or small mechanical equipment and the incidental direct sale to consumers of only those goods produced on site. Typical uses include metalworking, pottery and ceramic studios with a kiln, glass furnace, or woodworking.

artisan manufacturing” means an establishment primarily engaged in on-site production of goods by hand manufacturing or artistic endeavor, which involves only the use of hand tools or small mechanical equipment and the incidental direct sale to consumers of only those goods produced on site. Typical uses include metalworking, pottery and ceramic studios with a kiln, glass furnace, or woodworking.

“Day care facility” means a commercial establishment providing nonmedical care for persons on a less than twenty-four (24) hour basis other than family day care. This classification includes nursery schools, preschools, and day care facilities for children or adults, and any other day care facility licensed by the state of California.

“Dry cleaning facility” means a facility engaged in the cleaning of fabrics in an essentially nonaqueous solvent by means of one or more washes in solvent and extraction of excess solvent. Does not include dry cleaners, drop-off and pick-up.

Eating and Drinking Establishment.

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

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“Bar” means a business, whether called a bar, nightclub, lounge, or other, that serves alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises as a primary use, including on-sale service of alcohol including beer, wine, and mixed drinks and amplified music as an accessory use. This subclassification excludes formula businesses.

“Brewpub” means an establishment that is a hybrid between a restaurant and a brewery engaged in the small-scale production of specialty or craft beer that sells at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the beer produced on site with significant food services in a restaurant or bar. Brewpubs may also sell beer to go or distribute it to off-site destinations.

“Mobile food vendor” means a business engaged in the sale of prepared, prepackaged or unprepared, unpackaged food or foodstuffs from a mobile vending unit on private or public property.

“Restaurant, full service” means an establishment where food and beverages are served to patrons on site. This subclassification excludes formula businesses.

“Restaurant, limited counter service” means a restaurant where more than fifty percent (50%) of food, frozen desserts, or beverages intended for immediate consumption is available after a short waiting time and is packaged or presented in such a manner that it may be readily eaten off the premises as well as on the premises where it is sold; and where the facilities for on-premises consumption of the food items are insufficient for the volume of customers purchasing such items. This subclassification includes, but is not limited to, cafes, coffee shops, ice cream shops, delicatessens, bakeries, and sandwich shops, and by-the-slice pizza parlors with indoor or outdoor seating for customers. This subclassification excludes formula businesses.

re the facilities for on-premises consumption of the food items are insufficient for the volume of customers purchasing such items. This subclassification includes, but is not limited to, cafes, coffee shops, ice cream shops, delicatessens, bakeries, and sandwich shops, and by-the-slice pizza parlors with indoor or outdoor seating for customers. This subclassification excludes formula businesses.

“Emergency services” means facilities for parking and the dispatch of emergency medical transport services, including ambulance, fire, police, and rescue. May include offices and facilities for cooking and sleeping of on-duty personnel.

Emergency Shelter. As defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 50801(e), “emergency shelter” means housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons that is limited to occupancy of six months or less by a homeless person, including, but not limited to, navigation centers, bridge housing, and respite or recuperative care. No individual or household may be denied emergency shelter because of an inability to pay.

Family Day Care, Large. As defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.78, a “large family day care home” means a facility that provides care, protection, and supervision for seven to fourteen (14) children inclusive, including children under ten (10) years of age who reside at the home, as set forth in Section 1597.465 and as defined in those regulations.

Family Day Care, Small. As defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.78 a “small family day care home” means a facility that provides care, protection, and supervision for eight or fewer children, including children under ten (10) years of age who reside at the home, as set forth in Section 1597.44 and as defined in those regulations.

Food and Beverage Sales.

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

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“Farmers’ market” means temporary but recurring outdoor retail sales of primarily raw, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, nuts, plants, flowers, and prepared products such as jellies, breads, and meats that are

predominantly grown or produced by vendors who sell them. Also includes sale of nonfood items (processed food, artisan items, clothing, leather, art, etc.).

“Fruit and vegetable market” means a retail establishment that primarily sells fresh produce.

“Grocery store” means a store limited to ten thousand (10,000) square feet in gross floor area with retail sales of meat, produce, dairy, baked goods, and groceries with accessory sales of household goods and delicatessen items.

“Liquor store” means a retail establishment that primarily sells alcoholic beverages.

“Public market” means a retail location made up of small, independent retail or food/drink businesses where each shop or stall is owner-operated.

“Roadside stand” means an open-air retail establishment that sells agricultural products produced on site.

“Wine shop” means an establishment that purchases and sells wines from multiple wineries and distributors. Wines may be made in other counties in California, other states, or other countries. Beer sales may occur in a wine shop. Incidental wine tastings may occur in wine shops. Wine shops are not owned by wineries and must possess a Type 20, 21, or 42 license from Alcoholic Beverage Control.

“Winery tasting room” means an establishment that sells wines on behalf of one or more wineries and enables consumers to taste wine (with and without charge) as a regular part of the sales process. The wines for tasting and for sale must be made from a minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) Napa Valley grapes and must be labeled Napa Valley or be a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley. The permit requires a Type 02 ABC license. Food may be provided if it is at no cost to the consumer, is made off premises, and the facilities are approved by Napa County environmental management.

“Food preparation” means an establishment preparing and/or packaging food for off-site consumption only, including catering kitchens, small-scale specialty food production, and commercial kitchens. This classification excludes establishments with an industrial character in terms of processes employed, waste produced, water used, and traffic generation. May include ancillary retail sales of items prepared on the premises.

“Formula business” means a business which is required by contractual or other arrangement to maintain any of the following: standardized services, decor, uniforms, architecture, signs, trademark, name, or other similar standardized features which cause them to be substantially identical to ten (10) or more other businesses in the United States regardless of ownership or location. This shall include, but not be limited to, retail sales and service, visitor accommodations, wholesale and industrial operations. Does not include formula restaurants, which are prohibited.

“Formula restaurant” means a restaurant devoted to the preparation and offering of food and beverage for sale to the public for consumption either on or off the premises and which is required by contractual or other arrangement to offer any of the following: standardized architecture or standardized external signs which cause

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

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such architecture and signs to be substantially identical to ten (10) or more other businesses in the United States regardless of ownership or location.

“Fuel storage” means a facility engaged in the storage of gasoline or other fuel sources.

“Funeral home or mortuary” means an establishment primarily engaged in the provision of services involving the care, preparation, or disposition of human remains and conducting memorial services. This subclassification includes funeral parlors, crematories, and mortuaries, but excludes cemeteries and burial parks.

“Government office” means an administrative, clerical, or public contact office of a government agency, including postal facilities and courts, along with the storage and maintenance of vehicles. Includes public and quasi-public noncommercial uses (open to the public but privately owned), buildings and facilities of an administrative, educational, religious, cultural, communications or public service nature. This classification excludes corporation yards, equipment service centers, and similar facilities that require maintenance and repair services and storage facilities for related vehicles and equipment.

“Health club or fitness center” means a facility used for sports, health, and recreational uses, including tennis or racquetball courts, swimming pools, weight training, exercise classes, health spas, and other similar uses.

“Heavy equipment repair” means an establishment engaged in the repair of heavy-duty vehicles, construction equipment and apparatus, as well as equipment associated with any form of heavy manufacturing.

“Home occupation” means a commercial use conducted on residential property by the residents that is incidental to the primary residential use of the dwelling.

“Hospital or clinic” means a state-licensed facility providing medical, surgical, psychiatric, or emergency medical services to sick or injured persons. This classification includes facilities for inpatient or outpatient treatment, including substance-abuse programs and teen crisis counseling centers, as well as training, research, and administrative services for patients and employees. This classification excludes veterinary and animal hospitals (see “Veterinary clinic”).

“Indoor recreation” means an establishment that provides indoor amusement or recreation services conducted within an enclosed building. This classification includes but is not limited to arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, billiard parlors, video game centers, card rooms, and ice- and roller-skating rinks.

“Industrial, general” means an establishment engaged in the manufacturing of nonedible products from extracted or raw materials or recycled or secondary materials, or bulk storage and handling of such products and materials. Production typically involves some transformation by way of heating, chilling, combining, or through a chemical or biochemical reaction or alteration. Toxic, hazardous, or explosive materials may be produced or used in large quantities as part of the manufacturing process. These industrial activities may produce impacts on nearby properties, such as noise, gas, odor, dust, or vibration. This classification includes manufacturing for biomass energy conversion, commercial cosmetics and perfumes, electrical appliances, apparel and textile mills, leather and allied products manufacturing, wood and paper, glass and glass products, chemical products, medical/ pharmaceutical products, plastics and rubber, nonmetallic minerals, primary and fabricated metal products, and automotive and heavy equipment.

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

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“Instructional services” means an establishment that offers specialized programs in personal growth and development such as music, martial arts, vocal, fitness, dancing, reading, and math instruction. Attendance is typically limited to hourly classes rather than full-day instruction. These establishments do not grant diplomas or degrees, though instruction could provide credits for diplomas or degrees granted by other institutions. Includes art, dance, photography, or music studio offering instruction, including retail as an accessory use. This classification also includes tutoring facilities which offer academic instruction to individuals or groups.

“Laundromat, self-service” means a facility where patrons wash, dry, or iron clothing or other fabrics in machines operated by the patron.

“Live/work” means an integrated housing unit and working space occupied and utilized by a single household in a structure designed or structurally modified to accommodate joint residential occupancy and work activity.

Lodging.

“Bed and breakfast inn” means a home occupation in an owner-occupied residence in which transitory lodging and breakfast is provided to guests for compensation.

“Boarding house” means a dwelling unit, other than a hotel, bed and breakfast, or condominium hotel, used in whole or in part to provide short-term or long-term lodging for compensation under multiple separate written or oral agreements.

“Hotel” means an establishment with two or more rooms or suites that are used to provide overnight or extended-stay lodging to transient patrons.

“Short-term rental” means the rental of any residential structure or any portion of any residential structure for occupancy for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes for thirty (30) or fewer consecutive calendar days.

“Low-barrier navigation center” means a housing-first, low-barrier, service-enriched shelter focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelter and housing. (See California Government Code Section 65660.)

“Maker’s space” means a workspace for an artist or artisan or for a group of artists or artisans practicing an applied art or craft, including but not limited to candle-making, pottery and ceramics (no kiln allowed), jewelry, or multimedia, with incidental retail sales of items produced on the premises. Uses in a maker’s space typically do not produce significant odors, fumes, noise, or other disturbances.

“Manufacturing, packaging, and processing” means an establishment engaged in the production, processing, packaging, or manufacturing of food or beverage products and where instruction, direct sales, tasting, or on-site consumption are incidental to the food or beverage production activity. This classification excludes wineries and the slaughtering of animals which is not allowed.

“Micro-brewery” means an establishment engaged in the small-scale and independent manufacturing that produces fifteen thousand (15,000) barrels or less of specialty or craft beer per year. A small tasting room or bar

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

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for visiting consumers is allowed on site although a minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the beer produced must be sold in off-site locations through any one of the following ways:

1. Wholesale, i.e., the brewer sells to a wholesaler who in turn sells to a retailer or the brewer acts as a wholesaler and sells directly to a retailer;

2. Direct sales, i.e., the brewer sells directly to the consumer via carry-outs or sales from an on-site taproom or restaurant.

“Micro-distillery” means a small, often boutique-style facility established to produce beverage grade spirit alcohol from any source or substance that is licensed to manufacture, store, and sell spirits produced in single batches (as opposed to larger distillers’ continuous distilling process).

Mining.

“Gravel mining operations” means a facility engaging in the extracting, producing, handling, milling, or other processing of gravel.

“Mining and quarrying of nonmetallic minerals” means a facility engaging in the extracting, producing, handling, milling, or other processing of nonmetallic minerals.

“Mobile home” means, as defined in Section 18008 of the California Health and Safety Code or “manufactured home” as defined in Section 18007 of the California Health and Safety Code, a movable dwelling constructed on a chassis, designed for use without a permanent foundation, and designed to be connected to utilities. Excludes manufactured modular housing designed to be placed on a permanent foundation and recreational vehicles, as defined in Section 799.24 of the California Civil Code and Section 18010 of the California Health and Safety Code, commercial coaches, and/or factory-built housing, as defined in Section 19971 of the California Health and Safety Code.

“Model home sales office” means a dwelling temporarily used as a sales office for on-site sales for a residential development under construction.

“Multifamily dwelling” means two or more attached dwelling units on a single lot. Types of multifamily dwellings include duplexes, single-room occupancy units, townhouses, and apartment buildings.

Office.

“Business, professional, and technology” means an office of a firm, organization, or agency providing professional, executive, management, or administrative services, such as accounting, architectural, computer software design, engineering, graphic design, interior design, legal, and tax preparation.

“Medical and dental” means an office providing consultation, diagnosis, therapeutic, preventive, or corrective personal-treatment services by doctors or dentists; medical and dental laboratories that see patients; licensed acupuncturists; and similar practitioners of medical and healing arts for humans licensed by the state of California. Incidental medical and/or dental research within the office is considered part of the office use if it supports the on-site patient services.

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

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“Walk-in clientele” means an office providing direct services to patrons or clients without prior appointments. This use classification includes employment agencies, insurance agent offices, real estate offices, travel agencies, utility company offices, and offices for elected officials. It does not include banks or check-cashing facilities, which are separately classified and regulated (see “Bank or financial institution”).

“Wholesale office” means an office of a wholesale firm excluding storage or on-site shipping and receiving of products.

“Winery office (off-site)” means an office performing off-site administrative functions for a winery.

“On-site storage facilities” means the indoor or outdoor storage of any materials, products, or equipment on the premises.

“Outdoor dining” means an area set up outside the confines of a commercial structure with tables, chairs, and other furnishings for the purpose of offering seating to patrons while selling, offering for sale, and serving food and beverages by an adjoining restaurant in which the same food and beverages are offered for sale, sold, and served.

“Outdoor display and sales” means the display or sale of any materials, products, or equipment outside of a building.

“Parking facility” means a surface lot or structure with five or more parking spaces situated contiguous to one another or in close proximity, providing parking as the primary use of a site, typically for a fee. Excludes parking provided incidental to another on-site activity.

Personal Services.

“Dry cleaners, drop-off and pick-up” means a facility operated for the primary purpose of dry cleaning clothing and other fabrics utilizing a process that involves the use of dry cleaning solvents. May include tailoring.

“Hair salon/nail salon/spa” means a service establishment that offers hairstyling, manicuring, spa treatments, or similar services. May include retail sales.

“Laundromat, self-service” means a self-serve clothes washing establishment containing one or more washers and drying, ironing, finishing, or other incidental equipment.

“Massage establishment” means an establishment having a fixed place of business where any person engages in or carries on any method of pressure on or friction against, or stroking, kneading, rubbing, tapping, pounding, vibrating, or stimulating of the external parts of the body with the hands or with the aid of any mechanical electrical apparatus or appliances with or without such supplementary aids as rubbing alcohol, liniments, antiseptics, oils, powder, creams, lotions, ointments, or other similar preparations commonly used in this practice. Such establishment shall have health enhancement as part of its purpose. Exempted from this definition are massage therapists operating in conjunction with and on the same premises as a physician, surgeon, chiropractor, osteopath, nurse or any physical therapist (state-licensed professions or vocations) who are duly state-licensed to practice their respective professions in the state of California.

ch establishment shall have health enhancement as part of its purpose. Exempted from this definition are massage therapists operating in conjunction with and on the same premises as a physician, surgeon, chiropractor, osteopath, nurse or any physical therapist (state-licensed professions or vocations) who are duly state-licensed to practice their respective professions in the state of California.

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

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“Tanning salon” means a commercial establishment where patrons can expose themselves to ultraviolet light to darken their skin.

“Tattoo and piercing” means an establishment whose principal business activity is one or more of the following: (1) using ink or other substances that result in the permanent coloration of the skin using needles or other instruments designed to contact or puncture the skin; or (2) creation of an opening in the body of a person for the purpose of inserting jewelry or other decoration.

“Processing of agricultural products primarily produced on the premises” means a facility engaging in the processing of crops primarily grown on site, excluding large wineries.

“Public services, major” means services for the public that include water treatment facility, wastewater treatment facility, corporation yard, warehouse, and other services that provide major public infrastructure services for urban development.

“Public services, minor” means services for the public that include utility substations, pumping stations and other transmission and distribution facilities.

“Recreational facility, active” means a public or private play field, athletic fields and facilities, including baseball/ softball diamonds, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, golf courses, bicycle courses, rollerblade and skateboard courses, swimming pools and boating/fishing facilities.

“Recreational facility, passive” means a park, playground, trail, botanical garden, or related open space.

“Research and development” means a facility for the scientific research and the design, development, and testing of electrical, electronic, magnetic, optical, pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology components and products in advance of product manufacturing conducted entirely within an enclosed building. This classification includes assembly of related products from parts produced off site, where the manufacturing activity is secondary to the research and development activities, in addition to involving the production of experimental products.

Retail.

“Art gallery” means a commercial establishment exclusively engaged in the sale, loan, and exhibition of paintings, sculpture, photography, video art, or other works of art.

“Building materials and supply” means retail sales or rental of building supplies or equipment. This classification includes lumber yards, tool and equipment sales, or equipment rental establishments, and includes establishments devoted principally to taxable retail sales to individuals for their own use. This subclassification does not include construction and material yards, auto rental, hardware stores less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet in gross floor area, or plant nurseries.

“Firearms sales” means a business engaged in the selling, transferring, or leasing any firearm or ammunition, either directly or indirectly.

“Furniture store” means a retail store primarily selling home furnishings including draperies, floor coverings, furniture, glass and chinaware.

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

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“General retail and merchandise” means the retail sale or rental of merchandise not specifically listed under another use classification. This subclassification includes retail establishments such as clothing stores, small hardware stores (with ten thousand (10,000) square feet or less of gross floor area), and businesses retailing the following goods: antiques, household pets and pet supplies, toys, hobby materials, handcrafted items, jewelry, cameras, photographic supplies and services (including portraiture and retail photo processing), pharmacies, electronic equipment, sporting goods, department stores, kitchen utensils, hardware, appliances, art supplies and services, paint and wallpaper, carpeting and floor covering, office supplies, bicycles, and new automotive parts and accessories (excluding vehicle service and parts replacement). Retail sales may be combined with other services such as office machine, computer, electronics, bicycle, and similar small-item repairs.

“Health care equipment” means an establishment that offers for sale primarily medical equipment and supplies.

“Nursery, lawn, and garden supply store” means an establishment primarily engaged in retailing nursery and garden products, accessory garden supplies, and trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, bulbs, and sod that are predominantly grown elsewhere. These establishments may sell a limited amount of a product they grow themselves.

“Saddle and equestrian store and repair” means an establishment that offers for sale primarily equipment and supplies related to equestrian uses. May include repairs of such equipment.

“Tobacco/smoke shop” means an establishment dedicated to the display, sale, distribution, delivery, offering, furnishing, or marketing of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco paraphernalia.

“Used merchandise store” means an establishment engaged in the purchase, barter, exchange, or sale of any secondhand merchandise of value, or which deals in secondhand goods. Does not include antique store.

“Reupholstery and furniture repair” means an establishment engaged in the maintenance or repair of upholstery, furniture, and similar items.

“School” means a facility for primary or secondary education, including public schools, charter schools, and private and parochial schools having curricula comparable to that required in the public schools of the state of California.

“Senior center” means a facility that offers services and activities to promote the physical, mental and social wellbeing of seniors.

“Short-term rental” means a use in which overnight accommodations are provided to guests for compensation for periods of less than thirty (30) days in a single-family dwelling.

“Single-family dwelling” means a building designed exclusively for and occupied exclusively by one single housekeeping unit. Includes site-built homes and modular homes.

“Single-room occupancy (SRO)” means housing (consisting of single-room dwelling units) that is the primary residence of its occupant or occupants. The unit must contain either food preparation or sanitary facilities (and may contain both) if the project consists of new construction, conversion of nonresidential space, or

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

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reconstruction. For acquisition or rehabilitation of an existing residential structure or hotel, neither food preparation nor sanitary facilities are required to be in the unit. If the units do not contain sanitary facilities, the building must contain sanitary facilities that are shared by tenants. A project’s designation as an SRO cannot be inconsistent with the building’s zoning and building code classification.

“Small recycling facility” means a recycling facility accessory to a primary use devoted exclusively to the collection of recyclable materials from the public. A small recycling facility does not include the processing of recycled products. A small recycling facility may include: mobile recycling units, reverse vending machines and groupings of reverse vending machines (including bulk reverse vending machines), kiosk type units (may be permanent), and unattended containers placed for the donation of recyclable materials. See Section 17.22.220, Small recycling facilities.

“Solar energy system” means any solar energy collection device and all associated appurtenances, including energy storage, used for the purposes of heating or cooling or generating electricity for a primary or accessory structure.

“Storage, personal” means a facility offering enclosed storage with individual access for personal effects and household goods including mini-warehouses and mini-storage, and records or inventory storage for businesses. This classification includes moving company businesses which offer storage and transporting services, but excludes workshops, hobby shops, manufacturing, or commercial activity.

Time-Share. See Section 17.22.260, Time-share uses.

“Transient occupancy use” shall have the same meaning as “short-term rental.”

“Transit station and terminal” means a facility for passenger transportation operations, including rail stations, bus terminals, taxi, and scenic and sightseeing facilities. Includes truck, bus, taxi, van and limousine terminals and service centers. This category excludes maintenance centers.

“Veterinary clinic” means an infirmary for the treatment of small animals, including overnight care.

“Warehousing, wholesale, and distribution” means an establishment engaged in selling merchandise to retailers and other contractors; industrial, commercial, institutional, farm, or professional business users; other wholesalers; or acting as agents or brokers in buying merchandise for or selling merchandise to such persons or companies. This category does not include freight forwarding terminals.

“Wildlife sanctuary” means an area of land managed as a nature reserve that serves as a place of refuge for wildlife. Includes wildlife sanctuaries, botanical gardens, outdoor nature areas and other similar facilities and uses for passive use.

“Wine warehousing” means a building used for the wholesale storage or distribution of wine and allied wine products from any source.

“Winery event center” means a facility for major public assembly events such as concerts, art festivals, banquets and special wine tastings. Winery event centers are an accessory use to a large winery.

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

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“Winery, large” means an agricultural processing facility used for wine production and the fermenting and processing of grape juice into wine, the refermenting of still wine into sparkling wine, and processes and practices used in the creation of ports, sherries, and the like. Includes manufacturing, packaging, commercial sales, and grape sampling facilities; crushing of grapes; fermenting and processing of grape juice; ageing and processing of wine; distillation; bottling of wine; on-site disposal of winery waste generated on a site; and warehousing and shipping of wine. Uses accessory to a winery, including offices, laboratories, equipment maintenance shops, employees’ eating facilities, cooperage repair shops, wine storage tanks, scales, and boiler rooms, are allowed.

“Winery, small” means an agricultural processing facility used for wine production and the fermenting and processing of grape juice into wine, and the refermenting of still wine into sparkling wine. Small wineries are an accessory use to a residential use.

“Winery visitor center” means a day use area including tour and tasting facilities, retail sales of wines and winerelated items, catering shops, cafes, restaurants, delicatessens, and drinking places. Must be conducted within structures specifically designated for such uses. Winery visitor centers are an accessory use to a large winery. (Ord. 26-1 § 5; Ord. 23-4 § 5 (Exh. A))