Napa County approves AB 720 estate-tasting pilot allowing up to 49 guests on vineyard parcels

NAPA COUNTY — The Napa County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 unanimously approved a local pilot to implement Assembly Bill 720, allowing limited ‘‘estate tasting’’ events on vineyard parcels that do not have winery production facilities.

The pilot, presented by Napa County Fire Marshal Jason Downs, authorizes up to 49 people per event (including staff), limits events to a single calendar day during daylight hours, and disallows temporary structures such as tents that would require separate building permits. Downs said the 49-person cap keeps events below state and local fire-code thresholds that would otherwise trigger more intensive assembly and building requirements: “49 persons, total. 49 is the gonna be the limit, and that includes staff and guests.”

Why it matters: supporters from small growers to industry groups said the measure provides a practical pathway for small, vineyard-based businesses to host intimate, educational experiences rooted in farming while preserving the county’s agricultural and safety standards. Michelle Novy of Napa Valley Vintners told the board the proposal is “intimate, it’s educational, and it’s fundamentally about farming.”

What the permit requires: the county will issue an annual online permit through the fire marshal’s office that includes a fire-and-life-safety acknowledgment form, an aerial site map showing property boundaries and emergency access, and verification of an applicant’s ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) license. Staff told the board the acknowledgment form will state that ADA compliance and other regulatory obligations remain the responsibility of the permit holder and are not the fire marshal’s enforcement duties; county counsel said the form will explicitly state that the fire marshal is not reviewing compliance with those other laws.

Operational limits and fees: staff described several operating limits—events excluded on red-flag fire days, maximum of 36 events per year per site (consistent with AB 720 text), use of agricultural roads consistent with local road-and-street standards, and no permitted temporary structures. Downs presented an estimate of related fees, noting the state ABC charges an annual fee of $210 and a $100-per-event individual permit if an operator hosted all 36 events; he also reported a county annual review fee described in the presentation as “the $3.43, which is our equivalent to our hourly rate.” The transcripted figure for the county review fee was unclear in context and will require clarification from staff.

Board direction and oversight: supervisors asked staff to add an ADA acknowledgment to the permit application and to include annual reporting metrics so the board can review permit usage, origins of O-2 (winery) licenses connected to participating vineyards and other measurable outcomes. Supervisor Ramos pressed staff on verification of O-2 license origin and whether an O-2 held in another county could be used on vineyards in Napa County; staff replied AB 720 focuses on ownership/control of the vineyard and said the application would verify common ownership/control via the submitted O-2 license.

Pilot timing and evaluation: the board approved the pilot as presented; staff recommended it take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and expire July 1, 2027 unless extended, to provide an 18-month period for data collection and stakeholder feedback. Downs said the pilot’s purpose is to “validate our local process and hear from the stakeholders on how this was helpful” and to identify adjustments before any broader changes.

Votes and next steps: Supervisor Alessio moved to approve the AB 720 Type 93 estate tasting event permit pilot; a second was received and the board voted aye unanimously. Staff will finalize the online acknowledgement form to include ADA language, a field to confirm the origin/control of the O-2 license, and an annual reporting mechanism for the board to review pilot outcomes.

Public reaction: vintners, small growers and farm-bureau representatives who addressed the board praised the approach as responsive to industry needs while keeping safety and agriculture at the center. Several speakers emphasized the pilot’s potential to help small, family-owned vineyards build direct relationships with consumers and to diversify local agricultural income.

The board’s action was procedural and limited to adopting the local permit framework and pilot; it did not alter existing use permits or override any parcel-specific restrictions.