Yountville — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Yountville's Title 17 Zoning Ordinance embeds historic-preservation controls into specific land‑use districts and project review procedures. The ordinance creates a dedicated H, Old Town Historic district and Old Town-related overlays and requires targeted review, historic assessments, and mitigation when demolition or exterior changes affect identified historic resources. Key rules live in the zoning chapters for the H district, the Old Town Commercial district, overlay chapters, the design‑review chapter, and a small‑lot development chapter that contains historic‑resource procedures. See § 17.28.010, § 17.60.010, § 17.96.010, and § 17.162.060 for the core authorities .

How Yountville organizes historic preservation in Title 17

General legal basis: Title 17 is the Town zoning ordinance (Title 17 may be cited as the Yountville Zoning Ordinance) and applies townwide; historic rules below are implemented through zoning chapters and design review procedures and are administered by the Planning & Building Department, the Planning Officer, the Zoning & Design Review Board, and Town Council as applicable (§ 17.04.010) .

District-by-district breakdown

Note: every district name below is the Town's actual land‑use designation and the requirements cited are the ordinance provisions.

H — H, Old Town Historic

• Purpose: preserve Old Town character; maintenance/rehabilitation encouraged; design review required for all construction to ensure new/renovated structures reinforce Old Town scale and character (§ 17.28.010) .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwelling, accessory dwelling unit (ADU), duplex, residential auxiliary structures, residential care, certain home occupations, day care, supportive/transitional housing; ADUs are explicitly allowed per chapter rules (§ 17.28.030) . (See the Town ADU rules for state law interplay.) Link: first mention of ADUs: Yountville ADUs.
• Key development and dimensional standards: density cap 8 units/acre, lot size minima and maxima (e.g., single‑family 5,000–8,000 sq ft depending on use) and FAR rules in Table 17.28‑1 and related sections; exterior alterations and new structures require design review; some new/expanded uses require a use permit (§ 17.28.050, Table 17.28‑1) .
• Where it applies: parcels shown on the Zoning Map designated H; specifics and site‑specific development rules are in Chapter 17.28 (§ 17.28.010–.050) .

OTC — OTC, Old Town Commercial

• Purpose: reflect Yountville's commercial beginnings and maintain small‑scale commercial character; encourage maintenance of commercial historic structures and pedestrian orientation (§ 17.60.010–.020) .
• Typical permitted uses: commercial uses listed in § 17.60.050 (note: many new uses require a use permit and exterior remodels require design review) (§ 17.60.020) .
• Key standards: building scale and massing must preserve small‑scale character; parking visibility limited and typically screened (cross‑reference to parking chapter) — design standards and Old Town‑specific size preferences (emphasis on one‑story buildings in parts of Old Town) are enforced through Chapter 17.72 and design review (§ 17.60.020, § 17.72.030) .
• Where it applies: specified parcels fronting North Washington Street and other mapped areas as shown on the Zoning Map (§ 17.60.010) .

MU — MU, Mixed Use Overlay

• Purpose / applicability: the MU overlay is explicitly applied to parcels along the east side of Washington Street between Creek and Pedroni Streets to integrate small‑scale commercial uses into the Old Town context; it requires design review for exterior work and use permits for many new uses (§ 17.96.010–.020) . Link: first mention of overlays: Yountville Overlay Districts.
• Effect on historic preservation: the overlay instructs that redevelopment should “reflect the character of the Old Town Historic District” and ties mixed‑use design to the Old Town design standards (§ 17.96.010–.020) .

Small‑lot and project‑specific historic rules — Small Home Lot Development (Chapter 17.162)

• When it applies: small home‑lot development standards (Chapter 17.162) include a standalone historic‑preservation subsection with explicit requirements for demolition and historic resource review (§ 17.162.060) .
• What it requires:
  • A written historic assessment/survey prepared on State DPR Series 523 forms (California Office of Historic Preservation status codes) when demolition is proposed; the report must conclude the property is not Code 1–5 (eligible/significant) or contributor to a district before demolition may proceed (§ 17.162.060.A–B) .
  • If status code 1–5 results, the applicant must obtain a historic resource design review prepared by a historian qualified under Secretary of the Interior professional standards; mitigation measures identified become conditions of approval (§ 17.162.060.C) .
  • A conspicuous posted sign (minimum 3' × 4') identifying the demolition application is required; demolition and replacement project applications are reviewed concurrently and a discretionary demolition permit will not be approved unless the replacement project is approved (§ 17.162.060.A) . Link: first mention of signage: Yountville Signage.
• Application and findings for small‑lot projects: preliminary design review before the Zoning & Design Review Board, public notice, and findings that project complies with objective standards and state law are required (§ 17.162.080) .

Design review and standards that support preservation

• Design review authority and required findings: design review approval is required for construction and exterior remodeling in Old Town districts and overlays; the reviewing authority may approve only if the facts establish the findings in § 17.188.060 (site appropriateness, preservation of view corridors and trees, compatibility with neighboring properties, proper siting of parking/mechanical equipment, attractive materials, landscaping, infrastructure adequacy, and consistency with Title 17 and the General Plan) . Link: first mention of design review: Yountville Design Review.
• Design standards: Chapter 17.72 contains objective design standards on building scale, massing, street frontage, pedestrian orientation, rooflines, and an explicit preference for small building sizes and one‑story emphasis in Old Town commercial areas (§ 17.72.030) .
• Parking and screening expectations (Old Town): parking is to be accommodated in ways that limit visibility (screened small lots), with special on‑street parking rules for Old Town (§ 17.60.020, cross‑ref Chapter 17.116) . Link: first mention of parking: Yountville Parking.
• Where design review findings cannot be met, applicants must expect conditions or denial; approvals may expire if construction does not commence within the time limits in § 17.188.080 .

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant standards & uses

Link: first mention of development standards: Yountville Development Standards

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy for a project affecting historic resources in Yountville

• Submit a complete application to Planning & Building including required fees and plans in accordance with § 17.180.020 (application rules referenced throughout Title 17). Not found in retrieved materials for the full contents of § 17.180.020 — Verify with the jurisdiction.
• If the project proposes demolition or significantly alters a potentially historic structure, provide a written historic assessment on State DPR Series 523 forms and report a California OHP status code (§ 17.162.060.B) .
• If the assessment yields status code 1–5, obtain a historic resource design review prepared by a Secretary of the Interior‑qualified historian and incorporate required mitigation measures as conditions of approval (§ 17.162.060.C) .
• Post a conspicuous sign (min. 3' × 4') on the property for demolition applications and file the affidavit of posting as required (§ 17.162.060.A) .
• Simultaneously file any replacement development application; discretionary demolition will not be approved before replacement approval (§ 17.162.060.A) .
• Obtain design review approval in Old Town districts (H, OTC) or overlays; satisfy the findings in § 17.188.060 (site appropriateness, compatibility, landscaping, materials, etc.) .
• For projects in OTC or MU, conform to Chapter 17.72 design standards (massing, street frontage, pedestrian orientation) and parking/screening rules in Chapter 17.116 (§ 17.72.030, § 17.60.020) .
• If exceptions, variances, or use permits are needed (e.g., for increases in density or nonstandard changes), file under Chapters 17.208 (exceptions), 17.204 (variances), or 17.200 (use permits) and meet their findings/notice rules .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Yountville requires candidates for demolition or major exterior change in Old Town to prove a building isn't a historic resource (State DPR 523 form); if it is, a qualified historian must prepare a mitigation plan and the town may condition or deny demolition. All exterior work in the Old Town Historic and Old Town Commercial areas requires design review to meet objective Old Town design standards (§ 17.162.060, § 17.28.010, § 17.188.060) .

Information Gaps

• The local historic‑resources ordinance or chapter referenced as Section 15.28.010 (procedures and criteria for local listing/landmarks) was referenced by Title 17 but the full text of Chapter 15.28 was not present in the retrieved materials. Not found in retrieved materials — obtain Chapter 15.28 from the Town code.
• Detailed consultant list or Planning Department guidance for acceptable historic consultants (the code references a list on file) was not included in the Title 17 excerpts. Not found in retrieved materials — contact Planning & Building Department.

Source References

• § 17.28.010–.050 — H, Old Town Historic (purpose, permitted uses, design review requirement, Table 17.28‑1) — Yountville Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — https://ecode360.com/YO5040
• § 17.60.010–.020 — OTC, Old Town Commercial (purpose and Old Town commercial conditions) — Yountville Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — https://ecode360.com/YO5040
• § 17.96.010–.020 — MU, Mixed Use Overlay (overlay application and Old Town character requirement) — Yountville Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — https://ecode360.com/YO5040
• § 17.162.060–.090 — Small Home Lot Development historic‑preservation and application review procedures (DPR 523 requirement, posting, concurrent replacement review, mitigation, findings, conditions) — Yountville Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — https://ecode360.com/YO5040
• § 17.188.060–.080 — Design review findings, conditions, expiration — Yountville Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — https://ecode360.com/YO5040
• § 17.72.030 — Nonresidential design standards (building scale and street frontage expectations) — Yountville Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — https://ecode360.com/YO5040
• § 17.04.010 — Title 17 identification and administering authorities — Yountville Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — https://ecode360.com/YO5040

Retrieved passages

• Yountville Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Yountville Zoning Code (Chapter 17.116) High relevance show source text
• Yountville Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Yountville Zoning Code (Chapter 17.80) High relevance show source text
• Yountville Zoning Code (Section 17.180.040) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (Section 66410) High relevance show source text
• Yountville Zoning Code (Chapter 17.72) High relevance show source text
• Yountville Zoning Code (§ 9) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 17.28.010–.050** — H, Old Town Historic (purpose, permitted uses, design review requirement, Table 17.28‑1) — Yountville Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — (§ 17.28.010)
• Yountville_ZoningCode.md

• Official Yountville code library