Napa County · checked 2026-09-16
Can you BnB it in St. Helena?
RestrictedSt. Helena allows short-term rentals of single-family dwellings only with a city short-term rental permit, and no more than 25 permits may exist citywide at any time. Permits are limited to one per person and one dwelling per lot, require three years of prior ownership, are not transferable, and cap guests at two per bedroom plus two up to twelve.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L117.22.200(B) · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1SHMC 17.22.200 (Ord. 23-4 section 5); Table 17.16.020(A) in 17.16.020; definition in 17.33.010; TOT 3.28.020 (Ord. 19-11) · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L117.22.200(D) · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Permit capPermits are capped at 25.L117.22.200(D) · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Caps and limitsCitywide cap of 25 permits at any time. One dwelling per lot. One permit per person. Maximum 5 bedrooms used for STR. Occupancy capped at two times bedrooms plus two, maximum 12. Applicants must have owned the home at least three years, and residents of St. Helena get preference over nonresidents. Permit holders must rent a minimum average of 60 days per year unless the dwelling is their primary residence.L117.22.200(D) · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Transfer when the home sellsThe permit must be in the name of the owner-applicant, who must be an owner of the real property, one person may hold no more than one permit, and the code states flatly that the permit is not transferable. No family, heir, trust, or entity exceptions appear in the section. A buyer cannot inherit a seller's permit and, with the 25 permit citywide cap plus the three year prior ownership requirement, a new owner cannot even apply for three years.L117.22.200(D) · code text · checked 2026-09-16
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
17.22.200(B)“No person may use or maintain, nor may any person authorize, aid, facilitate or advertise the use of, any single-family dwelling on any parcel in any zoning district for short-term rental without a short-term rental permit.” source
17.22.200(D)“The total number of permits for short-term rental dwellings in the city must not exceed twenty-five (25) at any time.” source
17.22.200(D)“The short-term rental permit must be in the name of the owner-applicant, who must be an owner of the real property upon which the short-term rental use is to be permitted. One person may hold no more than one short-term rental permit. The permit is not transferable.” source
17.22.200(D)“The short-term rental use is permitted in no more than one single-family dwelling per lot.” source
Citation: SHMC 17.22.200 (Ord. 23-4 section 5); Table 17.16.020(A) in 17.16.020; definition in 17.33.010; TOT 3.28.020 (Ord. 19-11)
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How this page was verified
Verified from the municipal code (level 1), checked on 2026-09-16 by the CanIBnB research desk. Research is AI assisted and human reviewed; the method, the level system, and the re-check schedule are on the How we verify page. If anything here is wrong, report it and it goes in the public corrections log.