Madera County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Lot coverage in unincorporated Madera County is regulated by Title 18 (Zoning) through each district's development-standards table rather than a single county-wide percentage. In the agricultural zones under Section 18.53.030, maximum lot coverage is just 10 percent in the AR-5 (five-acre) zone and 5 percent in the larger ARE exclusive-agricultural zones, with the ARF foothills zone at 40 percent-reflecting the intent to keep agricultural land largely open. In residential zones under the Section 18.11.120 table, maximum lot coverage varies widely by zone: roughly 20 percent in the rural and mountain single-family zones (RRS, RMS, RT), about 40 percent in some rural residential zones, and 80-85 percent in the urban single-family (RUS) and RX zones. The same tables also set maximum floor-area ratios by number of stories. Chapter 18.100 (Lot Dimensions-Open Areas) further governs required open areas and usable open space for development. Because the applicable percentage is entirely zone-dependent, a property owner must first identify the parcel's zoning district, then read that district's development-standards table. Confirm the parcel's zone and current standards with Madera County Planning, 200 W. 4th Street, Madera.