Town of Yountville
Staff Report
6550 Yount Street
Yountville, CA 94599
Agenda Item #: 10A
Yountville Town Council Staff Report
DATE: October 7, 2025
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Aaron Hecock, Planning & Building Director
PREPARED BY: Aaron Hecock, Planning & Building Director
RECOMMENDATION
Introduce and waive the first reading of Ordinance Number 25-538 repealing and replacing certain sections of Yountville Municipal Code Title 15 to adopt by reference the 2025 California Code of Regulations Building Standards Code, Title 24, Parts 1 through 12.
DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
The California Building Standards Code is updated triennially with the current 2025 update due to take effect on January 1, 2026. The codes for building construction are updated and adopted by the State Building Standards Commission every three years to take advantage of advances in research, testing and new materials, methods and technology and to apply minimum safety standards consistently throughout the state of California. Each California town, city and county is required to adopt the Building Standards Code.
In addition, the Town may adopt certain local amendments to the provisions of the codes which are reasonably necessary to protect the health, welfare, and safety of citizens of Yountville due to local climate, geographical, and topographical conditions. This Ordinance includes local amendments to the codes that were filed and in effect as of September 30, 2025, and are continued from prior code adoptions. A recently adopted state law prohibits new local amendments to the codes except in specified circumstances, including for local amendments previously in effect such as the local amendments in this ordinance.
The local amendments prohibit the use of new wood shingles and shakes in roof and exterior wall assemblies.
These prohibitions are based on the increased risk of rapid spread of fire due to the small lot sizes within the Town with structures in close proximity to each other. This concern is more notable after the Napa and Sonoma fires of 2017 and again with the Pickett fire in 2025 where we saw firsthand how fire rapidly spread from residence to residence during in a high wind created by the fires. Wood shingles are now banned by the State for use in high-risk fire severity zones which include the hills in the unincorporated areas surrounding the Town of Yountville.
Other local amendments provide more stringent requirements for when fire sprinklers shall be installed and that an operational permit is required for temporary tents of 200 square feet or larger.
The proposed ordinance repeals and replaces certain sections of Title 15 of the Yountville Municipal Code to adopt by reference the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code with the local amendments.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adoption of this Ordinance is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, § 15378 (b). Even if it is a project, it is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, § 15061(b)(3) as there is no possibility that adoption of this ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Is there a Fiscal Impact? No
Is it Currently Budgeted? N/A
Where is it Budgeted? N/A
Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? Mandatory
Is there a Staff Resource Impact? Nominal
STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL
Is item Identified in Strategic Plan? Yes
If yes, Identify Strategic Goal and Objective. Visionary Leadership: The Town's leadership maintains an openminded, forward-thinking decision-making process. We value engagement and participation from all members of the community as we work together to create policies and plan for the future.
Briefly Explain Relationship to Strategic Plan Goal and Objective. Updating the Yountville Municipal Code to adopt by reference the 2025 California Code of Regulations Building Standards Code, Title 24, Parts 1 -12 helps ensure safety and quality of life for Yountville residents, businesses and visitors.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance 25-538