Madera County allows poultry and livestock in agricultural and large-lot residential zones under Title 18 (Zoning). Section 18.04.190 (Farm, poultry) defines commercial poultry operations. The County is largely agricultural, so most parcels permit chickens and livestock subject to setback and zoning rules.
Madera County Code Title 18 (Zoning) treats poultry and livestock keeping as either an accessory residential use or a primary agricultural use depending on the zone district. Section 18.04.190 (Farm, poultry) defines commercial poultry farming, and the residential zone use regulations in Chapter 18.11 control non-commercial keeping. Most rural-residential and agricultural zones (R-R, A-E, AE) allow chickens, goats, sheep, and similar livestock as-of-right subject to lot-size and setback standards. Roosters and large numbers of birds typically require an agricultural zoning designation. Cal. Food & Ag Code §30951 and county Animal Services rules also apply to confinement and nuisance. Inside the City of Madera, Municipal Code §10-3.402 caps backyard chickens at 4 hens with no roosters.
Title 18 violations are misdemeanors under Madera County Code §18.150.020 (or applicable enforcement chapter), with fines up to $1,000 and/or 6 months jail. Each day of violation may be a separate offense. Nuisance abatement is also available under Chapter 6.04 for unsanitary conditions or odors.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Habitual barking is regulated through Madera County Code Chapter 9.58 (Noise Regulations) and Chapter 6.04 (Animal Control). A barking dog that disturbs neig...
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Madera County Code Chapter 9.58 (Noise Regulations) governs unincorporated areas. A March 2025 update set quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. with decibel-lim...
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Most of unincorporated Madera County is mapped by CAL FIRE as State Responsibility Area, with the eastern foothills (Oakhurst, Coarsegold, North Fork, Bass L...
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Cal. Public Resources Code §4291 (Defensible Space) requires 100 feet of cleared, maintained defensible space around structures in the State Responsibility A...
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All fireworks (including state-approved 'safe and sane') are prohibited in the State Responsibility Area covering Eastern Madera County. In the valley portio...
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Madera County has no countywide year-round irrigation calendar; restrictions are imposed locally by water districts. Madera Ranchos and other Madera County w...
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