Madera, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

510 sets the maximum building height for every residential zone in Madera: 35 feet in the R(A), R(1), and R(2) zones, 50 feet in R(3), and 15 feet for accessory buildings regardless of zone. The city can also apply a height-limitation (HL) zoning designation on top of any R district to bring the cap down to 20 feet where the General Plan calls for it, so the actual limit on a given lot depends on whether that overlay has been placed on it. 408 allows narrow exceptions to whatever height limit applies in the individual zone: chimneys, cupolas, water tanks, ventilating fans, towers, steeples, smokestacks, and similar mechanical appurtenances can exceed the zone height limit, but only after a use permit is obtained.

Telecommunication facilities get their own exception mechanism: to encourage shared use of towers and the use of alternative tower structures or stealth antennas, the Community Development Director/City Engineer can approve an exception of up to 20 additional feet above the zone's height restriction without requiring the full use-permit hearing process that other height exceptions need. 408 only comes into play for the narrow list of rooftop appurtenances and telecom structures it names.