Local zoning · Yountville

Yountville — Parking

Q: What parking counts apply to a single‑family home in Yountville?

Yountville requires two off‑street parking spaces for a single‑family home (one covered and one screened) under the town’s parking schedule in § 17.116.020 . Show both spaces on the same lot and comply with driveway width rules in § 17.116.050 .

Q: Do I need a permit to use tandem parking for my lot?

Tandem parking generally requires review under § 17.116.040 , with the code listing review considerations; however, the ordinance expressly states a use permit is not required for tandem parking for accessory dwelling units as established in § 17.156.020 . Verify layout and access with Planning.

Q: What limits are there on driveway and curb‑cut widths?

Residential driveway and curb‑cut widths are capped in § 17.116.050 (examples: single‑car residential garage driveway up to 10 ft , two‑car front garage up to 18 ft in certain locations; curb cuts for single‑car access generally not to exceed 12 ft ). Nonresidential curb cuts have separate caps (often 12 ft one‑way, 24 ft two‑way).

Q: Are EV charging stations required for commercial and multifamily projects?

Yes — new commercial and multifamily projects that provide 10 or more required parking spaces must provide EV charging stations equal to at least 10% of the total required spaces unless impractical as determined by the reviewing authority; single‑family projects must provide electrical service for potential EV charging. See § 17.116.020 .

Q: How are loading bays sized for commercial uses?

Loading bay minimums are given in § 17.116.030 : heavy commercial/industrial typically need a 12 ft berth width by 45 ft length by 15 ft height; other uses typically 11 ft × 35 ft × 14 ft . Confirm your use classification with Planning.

Q: Where do I put trees and landscaping in a parking plan?

Parking lots must provide one tree per six parking spaces , planted in tree wells at least 4×4×4 ft , with irrigation — requirements in § 17.116.070 . Include the landscaping plan as part of your submittal.

Parking under the Yountville local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

Ask a question free See coverage

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page explains how the Town of Yountville regulates off‑street parking, loading, bicycle parking, curb cuts and driveway dimensions, landscaping, lighting, and limited on‑street shoulder surfacing for Old Town. The controlling rules sit in Chapter 17.116 (Off‑Street Parking and Loading) and interact with each zoning district’s development standards; applicants should review the district chapters alongside § 17.116.010–.090 for site‑specific requirements.

The rest of this page stays strictly within the local zoning/planning ordinance (Title 17) — for building code, accessibility or construction-level specifics consult the California Building Standards Code.

Key townwide rules (what the code requires in practical terms)

Required parking counts are set by land‑use type in § 17.116.020 (vehicle counts, employee parking, EV and bicycle requirements).
Parking stall, aisle and loading bay sizes are set by § 17.116.030 (includes compact/accessible/loading tables).
Tandem parking rules and permit considerations appear at § 17.116.040 (special treatment for ADUs noted).
Driveway and curb cut widths and backing‑out rules are in § 17.116.050.
Location, screening and distance rules (same‑lot parking; corner lot front/side rules) are in § 17.116.060.
Parking lot landscaping (one tree per six spaces, tree‑well size and irrigation) is in § 17.116.070.
Lighting caps and design limits are in § 17.116.080.
Old Town (the H district) requires permeable surfacing for on‑street parking shoulders — see § 17.116.090.

Note: Master Development Plans and Town Council approvals can modify parking counts, locations, and design as allowed by the Master Development Plan provisions of Title 17. See the Master Development Plan chapter for the scope of permissible deviations.

(For related procedural topics consult the town pages for design review, development standards, and overlay districts.)

District‑by‑district breakdown (purpose, typical uses, key dimensional / parking notes, where it applies)

Each district below notes the local chapter that establishes the district purpose and development standards; parking requirements themselves are governed by Chapter 17.116 unless the district specifically modifies or adds conditions.

RS (Single‑Family Residential)

Purpose / where it applies: The RS district development standards are summarized at § 17.20.050 and apply to single‑family neighborhoods.
Typical permitted uses: detached single‑family homes, accessory residential uses (see district chapter).
Parking implications: Parking counts reference Chapter 17.116; for single‑family the code requires two spaces (one covered, one screened) per unit as the baseline in § 17.116.020. Driveway width limits and curb‑cut caps for residential properties are set in § 17.116.050. Screening and front/side yard parking limitations for corner lots are in § 17.116.060.

RM (Multifamily Residential)

Purpose / where it applies: RM development standards (density, setbacks) are summarized in § 17.24.050; multifamily development falls here.
Typical uses: duplexes, multifamily apartments; accessory units per ADU rules.
Parking implications: Multifamily parking counts are calculated by the schedule in § 17.116.020 (sliding counts; example: special rules for 3–4 units and then per‑unit increments thereafter). Multifamily projects must also provide bicycle parking equal to 10% of required vehicle spaces unless each unit has secured garage space (see § 17.116.020). Driveway sharing and tandem parking may be considered under § 17.116.040 and Master Development Plan provisions.

RM‑2

Purpose / where it applies: The RM‑2 district rules and table appear at § 17.26.050; similar to RM but with different lot/density parameters.
Typical uses: multifamily residential at the RM‑2 scale.
Parking implications: Parking is "As required by Chapter 17.116" (see § 17.26.050); MF bicycle parking and EV charging triggers (10% EV charger count for projects with ≥10 spaces) apply per § 17.116.020.

PC (Primary Commercial)

Purpose / where it applies: PC reinforces Washington Street as the main commercial corridor; see § 17.52.010–.020. Parking should be accommodated without dominating the streetscape.
Typical uses: retail, restaurants, offices that serve downtown.
Parking implications: Commercial parking counts come from § 17.116.020 (retail/office ratios are shown in the schedule). The PC chapter emphasizes parking design to limit visibility (screening, small lots) and encourages shared parking/remote parking solutions under Master Development Plan authority. Landscape screening rules reference Chapter 17.136 and the parking design rules in Chapter 17.116.

OTC (Old Town Commercial)

Purpose / where it applies: OTC covers Washington Street (north of Madison) intended to preserve historic, pedestrian‑oriented character at smaller scales — see § 17.60.010–.020.
Typical uses: small retail, restaurants oriented to pedestrians.
Parking implications: The OTC chapter specifically requires parking to be accommodated in ways that limit visibility (small lots screened from view) and references Chapter 17.116 for specifics. On‑site parking layout must support a walkable street and may require Master Development Plan or design review approvals.

H (Old Town Historic)

Purpose / where it applies: The H district aims to preserve Old Town’s historic character; see § 17.28.010–.020.
Typical uses: single‑family, ADUs, duplex, careful infill residential and accessory uses.
Parking implications: On‑street parking shoulders in the H district must be surfaced with permeable materials (gravel, decomposed granite, etc.) per § 17.116.090. Off‑street parking remains governed by § 17.116 with sensitivity to historic character via design review.

PF (Public Facilities)

Purpose / where it applies: PF is for public or quasi‑public uses; see the PF standards table at § 17.48.060.
Typical uses: public buildings, parks, schools, civic facilities.
Parking implications: PF refers parking requirements to Chapter 17.116 and allows Master Development Plan to set lot‑specific parking capacity and design to meet public use demands.

Decision‑relevant standards (quick reference table)

Topic	What the code requires (short)	Code Reference
Off‑street parking counts (residential/commercial)	Vehicle spaces by use (single‑family 2 spaces; duplex 4; multifamily sliding scale; retail/office ratios in schedule).	§ 17.116.020
Parking stall & aisle dimensions	Stall widths, lengths and minimum aisle widths by angle; compact car limits (30%); accessible stalls per Building Code.	§ 17.116.030
Tandem parking	Allowed with review; no use permit required for ADU tandem parking as in § 17.156.020 exception.	§ 17.116.040
Driveways / curb cuts	Residential and nonresidential maximum widths (examples: 10–18 ft residential, 12/24 ft nonresidential) and no backing into street.	§ 17.116.050
Location/screening	Residential: no parking in street‑side side yards or front yards unless screened; parking must be on same lot (or within 250 ft for non‑single family)	§ 17.116.060
Landscaping	One tree per six spaces; tree wells minimum 4×4×4 ft; irrigation required.	§ 17.116.070
Lighting	Confine light to parking area; average ≤1 fc at ground unless safety dictates otherwise.	§ 17.116.080
Old Town shoulders	Permeable surfacing required for on‑street parking shoulders in H district.	§ 17.116.090
Bicycle parking	Multifamily 10% of vehicle spaces; retail 5%; other nonresidential 10%; size and lock device requirements stated.	§ 17.116.020 (bicycle rules)
EV charging	Commercial & multifamily projects with ≥10 spaces: EV chargers ≥10% of required spaces; single‑family must provide EV electrical service.	§ 17.116.020
Loading bay sizes	Heavy commercial: 12'×45'×15'; all other uses: 11'×35'×14'.	§ 17.116.030 (loading)

Checklist (what an applicant must provide / satisfy for parking compliance)

Calculate required vehicle spaces from § 17.116.020 for each proposed use and include the math in plans.
Show parking stall layout and dimensions matching § 17.116.030 (stall, aisle, compact spaces, ADA note).
Show driveway curb cut dimensions and turning movements per § 17.116.050 (no backing onto street).
Bicycle parking plan (counts, dimensions, lockable device, location) per § 17.116.020.
Landscaping plan meeting tree count and tree‑well specs in § 17.116.070.
Lighting plan that confines light and meets § 17.116.080 illumination limits.
If in H (Old Town Historic), specify permeable shoulder surfacing for on‑street shoulders per § 17.116.090 and submit design review materials.
If proposing deviations (reduced/increased spaces, remote parking, shared lots, etc.), include a Master Development Plan or Use Permit justification and show proposed covenants/easements; reference Master Development Plan authority.

(For procedural details on submittals and design standards see the town's Yountville Zoning and Yountville Development Standards pages.)

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Applicability of parking reductions or shared parking	The code allows the decision body to increase/decrease spaces for atypical uses or via Master Development Plan, but the triggers and evidence are discretionary.	Confirm whether your project qualifies for reduced/increased parking and get clear written findings from the Planning Officer or Town Council; cite the Master Development Plan chapter.
Exact multifamily parking calculations for small projects	The code gives a sliding scale for 3–4 units then per‑unit increments; ambiguity can change required spaces.	Run the schedule in § 17.116.020 against your unit mix and ask Planning to confirm the rounding rules (fractions > .5 round up).
Tandem parking and ADUs	Tandem may require a use permit generally but is explicitly exempt for ADUs — application reviewers sometimes treat driveway/tandem layout as a design issue.	For ADUs rely on the ADU exception but verify driveway access, screening, and any design review conditions in § 17.116.040 and § 17.156.020. Verify with Planning.
EV charging “impracticality” exceptions	The code requires 10% EV parking for commercial/multifamily ≥10 spaces unless reviewing authority finds it impractical.	If you claim impracticality, obtain written findings from the reviewing authority explaining the basis. § 17.116.020 sets the baseline.
Which chapter controls site‑specific dimensional exceptions	Master Development Plans can waive minimum parking number/location and other standards — but only via the Master Development Plan findings/process.	If you propose nonstandard parking (remote, shared, valet, permeable paving), secure Master Development Plan approval per the Master Development Plan chapter.

Plain‑English Summary

Yountville’s zoning requires specific off‑street vehicle counts and bicycle/EV provisions (see § 17.116.020) and prescribes stall, aisle and loading sizes, driveway/curb cut widths, landscaping and lighting standards; Old Town has special permeable shoulder surfacing rules. Most deviations (reduced parking, remote/shared lots, unusual layouts) need Master Development Plan or discretionary approvals — so confirm before assuming flexibility.

Source References

Yountville Municipal Code — Chapter 17, Off‑Street Parking & Loading: § 17.116.010–.090 (vehicle counts, bicycle parking, EV, dimensions, driveways, landscaping, lighting, Old Town shoulder surfacing).
Download source: https://ecode360.com/YO5040 (Yountville Zoning Code)
District chapters cited (development standards and where parking calls apply): § 17.20.050 (RS) ; § 17.24.050 (RM) ; § 17.26.050 (RM‑2) ; § 17.48.060 (PF) ; § 17.52.010–.020 (PC) ; § 17.60.010–.020 (OTC) ; § 17.28.010–.020 (H, Old Town Historic) .
Master Development Plan (authority to modify/approve parking deviations): Chapter 17.192 (Master Development Plan provisions; deviations allowed with findings).

(If you want direct links to the town’s guidance pages referenced above — for design review, development standards, overlays, ADUs, landscaping, or the state building code — see the town menu pages: Yountville Zoning, Yountville Development Standards, Yountville Design Review, Yountville Overlay Districts, Yountville Historic Preservation, Yountville Landscaping and Screening, Yountville ADUs, and California Building Standards Code.)

Sources

Retrieved passages

Yountville Zoning Code (Chapter 17.192) High relevance
Yountville Zoning Code (§ 9) High relevance
Yountville Zoning Code (§ 17.116.040) High relevance
Yountville Zoning Code (Chapter 17.116) High relevance
Yountville Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
Yountville Zoning Code (Chapter 12.06) High relevance
CBC § 17.116.070 (§ 17.116.070.) High relevance
Yountville Zoning Code (§ 17.112.060.) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Yountville code library

Frequently asked questions

What parking counts apply to a single‑family home in Yountville?

Yountville requires two off‑street parking spaces for a single‑family home (one covered and one screened) under the town’s parking schedule in § 17.116.020. Show both spaces on the same lot and comply with driveway width rules in § 17.116.050.

How many bicycle parking spaces are required for a new apartment project?

Multifamily projects must provide bicycle parking equal to at least 10% of the required vehicle spaces unless each unit has a secured garage; bicycle spaces must meet size and locking device rules in § 17.116.020.

Do I need a permit to use tandem parking for my lot?

Tandem parking generally requires review under § 17.116.040, with the code listing review considerations; however, the ordinance expressly states a use permit is not required for tandem parking for accessory dwelling units as established in § 17.156.020. Verify layout and access with Planning.

What limits are there on driveway and curb‑cut widths?

Residential driveway and curb‑cut widths are capped in § 17.116.050 (examples: single‑car residential garage driveway up to 10 ft, two‑car front garage up to 18 ft in certain locations; curb cuts for single‑car access generally not to exceed 12 ft). Nonresidential curb cuts have separate caps (often 12 ft one‑way, 24 ft two‑way).

Are EV charging stations required for commercial and multifamily projects?

Yes — new commercial and multifamily projects that provide 10 or more required parking spaces must provide EV charging stations equal to at least 10% of the total required spaces unless impractical as determined by the reviewing authority; single‑family projects must provide electrical service for potential EV charging. See § 17.116.020.

Can the Town reduce the number of required parking spaces for a downtown project?

Yes. The decision‑making body may increase or decrease required off‑street parking for a land use when consistent with the General Plan and through review of a use permit or design review; larger deviations and site‑specific parking/location changes can be approved via the Master Development Plan process. See § 17.116.020 and the Master Development Plan chapter.

What special rules apply in Old Town (Historic) for parking surfaces?

Properties inside the H (Old Town Historic) district must use permeable materials (gravel, decomposed granite, or similar) for on‑street parking shoulders per § 17.116.090; off‑street parking remains subject to Chapter 17.116 and design review to protect historic character.

How are loading bays sized for commercial uses?

Loading bay minimums are given in § 17.116.030: heavy commercial/industrial typically need a 12 ft berth width by 45 ft length by 15 ft height; other uses typically 11 ft × 35 ft × 14 ft. Confirm your use classification with Planning.

If I want shared parking on a different lot, what is required?

Shared parking on another lot is allowed only if authorized (often through Master Development Plan) and the owner of the lot serving as parking must typically record a declaration of restrictions and covenants to reserve the spaces; see § 17.116.060.

Where do I put trees and landscaping in a parking plan?

Parking lots must provide one tree per six parking spaces, planted in tree wells at least 4×4×4 ft, with irrigation — requirements in § 17.116.070. Include the landscaping plan as part of your submittal.

Ask about any Yountville property

Get a cited, plain-English answer on Yountville zoning, setbacks, FAR, ADUs and permits — for any address.

Start Free Trial