Madera County, CA Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- CUP developments in SRA
- Requirement
- Annual defensible-space maintenance
- Clearance distances
- Set by state law, not county
- Scope
- Unincorporated Madera County only
Summary
Developments approved under Madera County's conditional-use zoning chapter within state fire-responsibility areas must maintain their defensible space every year to keep it usable in a wildfire.
Developments regulated by this chapter and within the state responsibility area (SRA) are required to provide annual maintenance of the defensible space area. Annual maintenance is intended to ensure continued availability, access, and utilization of the defensible space during a wildfire.
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
County Code § 18.94.150 requires developments regulated by Chapter 18.94 (Conditional Uses Permitted) that sit within the State Responsibility Area (SRA) to provide annual maintenance of their defensible space, so it stays available and usable during a wildfire. The section doesn't set the clearance distances itself: those defensible-space and structure-setback distances for SRA parcels come from state law, Public Resources Code § 4290 (also referenced for building setbacks at County Code § 18.98.010(C)). This is a county land-use requirement tied to conditional-use approvals in unincorporated Madera County's foothill and mountain SRA territory; it doesn't reach federal land inside Yosemite National Park or the cities of Madera and Chowchilla.
Violations & Fines
Failing to maintain the required defensible space can be enforced as a condition-of-approval violation tied to the underlying conditional use permit; the specific clearance distances themselves are set by state law (Pub. Resources Code § 4290), not this county section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Madera County set its own defensible-space clearance distances?
Does this rule apply inside Yosemite National Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera County
California rules heatmap·Compare Madera County to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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