Madera County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front setback
- 25 feet, all agricultural districts
- Side setback
- 10 feet, all agricultural districts
- Rear setback
- 20 feet, all agricultural districts
- Max dwelling height
- 35 feet; accessory buildings 15 feet
- Lot coverage
- 10% AR-5, 5% ARE tiers, 40% ARF
- Governing table
- Madera County Code § 18.53.030
Summary
Every agricultural zone district in unincorporated Madera County, from the five-acre AR-5 district up through the 640-acre ARE districts and the ARF foothills district, shares the same yard setbacks: 25 feet in front, 10 feet on the side, and 20 feet in the rear. Madera County Code Section 18.53.030's development standards table sets those figures alongside lot size, height, and coverage limits for each district.
The development standards table for agricultural zones identifies the parcel size, density standards, lot coverage, setbacks and height regulations that apply in the agricultural zones. Zone AR-5 ARE ARF. Chapter 54 56 58 60 64. 5 20 40 80-640 2½. Maximum permitted density (DU per lot) 2 2 2 2 2. Minimum Lot area 4½ 18 36 80 160 320 640 2½. Minimum lot dimensions: Lot width (ft.), average 200 200 600 400 100. Lot depth (ft.), minimum — — — — —. Setback requirements: Front setback (ft.) 25 25 25 25 25. Side setback (ft.) 10 10 10 10 10. Rear setback (ft.) 20 20 20 20 20. Maximum dwelling height 35 35 35 35 35. Accessory building height 15 15 15 15 15. Agricultural building height 45 60 60 60 60. Maximum lot coverage (%) 10 5 5 5 40.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).
Full Breakdown
64). Despite covering minimum lots that range from two and a half acres in ARF up to 640 acres in the largest ARE tier, the table sets one uniform setback across all five districts: a 25-foot front setback, a 10-foot side setback, and a 20-foot rear setback. 60 requires 80, 160, 320, or 640 acres depending on the sub-designation, on 400 feet of width; and ARF requires only two and a half acres on 100 feet of width, the smallest minimum in the group. Building heights are also standardized across the districts at 35 feet for a dwelling and 15 feet for an accessory building, though agricultural buildings get more headroom, capped at 45 feet in AR-5 and 60 feet in the other four districts.
Maximum lot coverage is where ARF stands apart: it allows up to 40 percent coverage, compared with 10 percent in AR-5 and just 5 percent across the ARE districts, reflecting the foothills district's smaller minimum lots. Every permitted density in the table tops out at two dwelling units per lot regardless of district.
Violations & Fines
A structure built into the required front, side, or rear setback in any agricultural zone is a Title 18 zoning violation under Chapter 18.112: it is declared a public nuisance, subject to a zoning administrator's notice and, if the owner disputes it, a hearing before an abatement order issues. Violations are also misdemeanors, with each day of the encroachment treated as a separate offense, and unabated conditions can be corrected at the owner's expense with a ten-dollar-per-day penalty recoverable in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are setbacks different for a five-acre AR-5 parcel versus a large ARE ranch?
How tall can I build an accessory building on agricultural land?
Which agricultural district allows the smallest lots?
Does the setback table apply on a Williamson Act contract parcel?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera County
California rules heatmap·Compare Madera County to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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