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Supervisors lift sunset for county micro‑winery ordinance; staff will pursue rule updates with stakeholders
Summary
The Board voted unanimously to remove the May 5, 2025 sunset date from Napa County—s temporary micro‑winery ordinance, allowing the county time to pursue stakeholder outreach and proposed amendments via the Planning Commission and return with changes this summer and fall.
The Napa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on May 6 to lift the May 5, 2025 sunset date from the county—s micro‑winery ordinance, effectively extending the ordinance while county staff completes stakeholder outreach and prepares ordinance amendments.
Staff presentation and scope: Michael Parker of Planning, Building & Environmental Services told the board the immediate request was limited to removing the sunset clause so that staff could continue work with stakeholders and the Planning Commission on amendments under county jurisdiction. The board was told staff will pursue outreach with micro‑winery operators (including two micro‑wineries already approved and several applicants in the queue) and with organized industry groups, and will return with recommended ordinance refinements to the Planning Commission (target: August) and to the Board this fall.
Why it matters: The micro‑winery ordinance was originally adopted to create a streamlined pathway for small producers and to test administrative and operational conditions for small on‑site winemaking operations. Staff noted there was a last‑minute surge of four new applications submitted shortly before the sunset; lifting the sunset gives staff time to consult with both established groups (such as Save Family Farms) and operators who are not affiliated with organized groups.
Board remarks and next steps: Supervisor Leon Alessio moved the staff recommendation to lift the sunset; Supervisor Veil Ramos seconded. Supervisors asked staff to ensure outreach reaches operators who are not part of industry groups and to notify applicants already in the queue that they may be able to refine or resubmit applications now that the deadline has been removed. Staff said the Planning Commission would review proposed amendments in August and return to the Board this fall for action.
Administrative vote: Motion to adopt an intent to adopt ordinance amending section 18.10.020 of chapter 18.1 of the Napa County Code to remove the 05/05/2025 sunset passed unanimously.
Speakers quoted in the article are drawn from the meeting transcript and listed in the speaker roster above.
