Historic homes in Napa: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Napa Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Napa's code says

Napa code What Napa's code adds
When a building counts as historic	Demolition of a building over 45 years old needs historic clearance before a building permit Applies: Building not listed on the Inventory § 15.52.080 · code text An application for demolition of a building greater than 45 years old and not listed on the Inventory shall require historic clearance prior to issuance of a building permit
Changing a historic home	Historic clearance, administrative certificate of appropriateness, or certificate of appropriateness is required before alteration Applies: Listed resource, local landmark, or resource within a local landmark district § 15.52.070 · code text No person shall make, or cause to be made, any alteration, demolition, or relocation of any listed resource, local landmark, or local landmark district (including any resource within a local landmark district) without first obtaining a historic clearance, administrative certificate of appropriateness or certificate of appropriateness as required by Section 15.52.070, 15.52.080, or 15.52.090. Historic clearance Applies: Work not likely to have an adverse impact on the integrity of the historic resource § 15.52.070 · code text The Director is authorized to issue a historic clearance (pursuant to subsection (E)(1)) for work on a historic resource if the Director determines that the work is not likely to have an adverse impact on the integrity of the historic resource Administrative certificate of appropriateness Applies: Work may have a potentially adverse impact, but the impact may be adequately mitigated with typical conditions of approval § 15.52.070 · code text The Director is authorized to issue an administrative certificate of appropriateness for an application to perform work on a historic resource if the Director determines that the work described in an application may have a potentially adverse impact on the integrity of the historic resource, but the potentially adverse impact may be adequately mitigated with typical conditions of approval
Demolishing an older or historic home	Certificate of appropriateness required; demolition may be approved only if the resource no longer has potential to meet historic-significance criteria Applies: Local landmark, resource within a local landmark district, or listed resource within a potential historic district § 15.52.080 · code text A Commission certificate of appropriateness shall be required for any application for demolition of a local landmark, or resource within a local landmark district, or listed resource within a potential historic district Historic clearance before a building permit; demolition only if the building no longer has potential to meet historic-significance criteria Applies: Building greater than 45 years old and not listed on the Inventory § 15.52.080 · code text An application for demolition of a building greater than 45 years old and not listed on the Inventory shall require historic clearance prior to issuance of a building permit and shall only be issued if the Director determines that the building no longer has the potential to meet criteria for historic significance as set forth under this chapter. A permit for demolition or alteration may be issued without other chapter requirements Applies: Work necessary to abate an imminent threat to public health or safety from a dangerous building § 15.52.080 · code text The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to regulate, restrict, limit or modify the authority of the city and the Building Official to issue permits for the demolition or alteration of a resource, to the extent that the Building Official determines that the work of demolition or alteration is necessary to abate an imminent threat to the public health or safety.

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Frequently asked questions

What rules apply to a historic home in Napa?

Napa's code: Demolition of a building over 45 years old needs historic clearance before a building permit (Building not listed on the Inventory) (§ 15.52.080); Historic clearance, administrative certificate of appropriateness, or certificate of appropriateness is required before alteration (Listed resource, local landmark, or resource within a local landmark district) (§ 15.52.070).

Historic homes in Napa

What Napa's code says

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