Landscaping Rules in Madera County, CA (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Madera County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Weed Ordinances
Madera County requires owners of vacant and improved lots in the unincorporated area to clear weeds by May 1st each year or face a $250 fine plus abatement costs.
Madera County Weed Abatement Ordinance
Some RestrictionsMadera County Code § 7.26.030
Every owner of any vacant lot or improved lot situated in the unincorporated areas of the county, or such areas as are designated by the Madera County fire department, shall, prior to May 1st of every year, remove all weeds from the following areas on their lots: A.For improved lots, a strip of land thirty feet wide surrounding the entire exterior of any improvement shall be cleared of weeds...
Water Restrictions
Unincorporated Madera County caps overhead sprinkler irrigation to the hours of eight p.m. to nine a.m. for new and rehabilitated landscapes covered by the county's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, Madera County Code Chapter 13.56. The rule reaches public and commercial projects of 2,500 square feet or more and new single- and multi-family homes, whose landscaped area is separately capped at 4,500 square feet. The planning director reviews and enforces the irrigation design plan.
Madera County Irrigation Watering Hour Limits
Some RestrictionsMadera County Code § 13.56.040(C)(12)-(14)
12.Overhead irrigation shall not be permitted within twenty-four inches of any non-permeable surface. There are no restrictions on the irrigation system type if the landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no overspray and runoff occurs.13.Overhead irrigation shall be limited to the hours of eight p.m. to nine a.m.14.All irrigation systems shall be equipped with the following:a.A s...
Native Plants
Madera County's landscape ordinance does not force common areas or open space meant to stay natural to be landscaped, and it bars HOA covenants from prohibiting low-water or native plantings.
Natural Open Space Landscaping Rule in Madera County
Few RestrictionsMadera County Code § 13.56.030(C)
This chapter shall not be construed as requiring landscaping of common areas or open space that is intended to remain natural. Covenants, conditions and restrictions shall not prohibit use of low-water use plants or the replacement of turf with less water intensive plant species.D.Recognizing the special landscape needs of cemeteries, new and rehabilitated landscapes within a cemetery are subje...
Artificial Turf
Madera County's code has no standalone artificial-turf ordinance; its only mention defines residential artificial turf and sod as qualifying 'landscape' material inside the abandoned-property maintenance chapter, not indoor-outdoor carpet.
Madera County Artificial Turf Rules
Light RestrictionsMadera County Code § 7.40.030
"Landscape" includes, but is not limited to, grass, ground covers, bushes, shrubs, hedges or similar plantings, decorative rock or bark or artificial turf/sod designed specifically for residential installation. Landscape does not include weeds, gravel, broken concrete, asphalt, decomposed granite, plastic sheeting, mulch, indoor-outdoor carpet or any similar material. Landscape Maintenance. ...
Landscaping Rules by City in Madera County
1 cities in Madera County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Madera County ordinances
See every category we cover for Madera County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Madera County Ordinance Hub →