Madera, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Madera Municipal Code § 10-3.513(C)(5)
- Minimum rental term
- 30 days
- Applies to
- ADUs and junior ADUs
- Companion rule
- Cannot be sold separately from main house
- Enforcement mechanism
- Recorded deed restriction
Summary
Madera bars accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs from being rented for terms under 30 days. Section 10-3.513 also forbids selling an ADU separately from the main house, keeping the unit tied to long-term housing rather than vacation rental use.
(C) General requirements. An accessory dwelling unit: ... (5) Shall not be used for rentals with terms of less than 30 days. (6) Shall not be sold separate from the primary residence.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2024 S-50: Current through Ordinance 1010 C.S., passed 6-5-24).
Full Breakdown
513(G)(1)(e). The rule reads as a general requirement for eligibility, not a discretionary condition, meaning any ADU approved under the ordinance is automatically subject to it regardless of what the property owner intends. 513(F)(10) requires the property owner to record a deed restriction with the Madera County Recorder confirming the unit will not be sold separately and will comply with the size and development standards in the ordinance. Together, these provisions are aimed at using the added units for long-term local housing supply consistent with the ordinance's stated purpose under Cal. 22, rather than allowing them to be operated as short-term or vacation rentals like an Airbnb.
Violations & Fines
The ordinance ties compliance to the ADU's legal status: because the 30-day minimum and no-separate-sale terms are baked into the recorded deed restriction under subsection (F)(10)(d), violating them can void the unit's approval and expose the owner to legal action, in addition to any citation issued for operating an unpermitted short-term rental under the city's other regulatory codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I list my Madera ADU on a short-term rental site?
How does Madera enforce the 30-day ADU rental minimum?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera
California rules heatmap·Compare Madera to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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