Madera County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

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, provided that if any portion of any improvement lies within thirty feet of the property line, then removal of weeds from that location need only take place up to the property line. If an improved lot is less than three acres in area, the owner may mow the entire lot to within one-half inch to one inch of the ground and maintain that height throughout the fire season. "Improvement" is defined as any commercial, retail, or residential structure and any accessory structure used in conjunction with such commercial, retail or residential structure, including but not limited to storage sheds, detached garages, fuel tanks (including LPG), car ports, animal shelters, greenhouses and fences.B.For vacant lots, a strip of land thirty feet wide from each property line and street frontage shall be cleared of weeds. Abatement is not required on any actively grazed land, irrigated pasture, or cultivated lands if the weed growth does not exceed six inches in height.