Madera, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Vacancy limit
- 90 days without qualifying exception
- Registration deadline
- 10 business days of vacancy
- Registration renewal
- Annual, with City Council fee
- Boarding standard
- 1/2 inch exterior-grade plywood
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 9-12.08
Summary
Madera bars any building from standing vacant more than 90 days unless the owner shows active repair, active marketing, or active blight-prevention maintenance, and requires annual registration with the Finance Department.
No person, corporation, or other entity shall allow a building designed for human use or occupancy to stand vacant for more than 90 days, unless the owner establishes by substantial evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Neighborhood Preservation Manager or his/her designee that one or more of the following applies: (A) The building is the subject of an active building permit for repair or rehabilitation and the owner is progressing diligently to complete the repair or rehabilitation; (B) The building meets all applicable codes, is actively maintained, and is ready for occupancy, and is actively being offered for sale, lease or rent
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2024 S-50: Current through Ordinance 1010 C.S., passed 6-5-24).
Full Breakdown
, passed September 15, 2010. 03 prohibits allowing a building designed for human use to stand vacant more than 90 days unless the owner proves to the Neighborhood Preservation Manager that it is under an active repair permit, is code-compliant and actively being marketed for sale, lease or rent, or is being actively maintained against blight, including landscaping upkeep, exterior maintenance, sign compliance, removal of trash and graffiti, prevention of criminal activity, and securing all openings. 04 requires that any vacant building be secured with exterior-grade plywood at least one-half inch thick, painted to match the structure.
06 that cannot exceed the reasonable cost of administering the program. 07 to identify vacant buildings, order open ones secured, and initiate proceedings against owners of substandard or nuisance properties. 08.
Violations & Fines
Leaving a building vacant beyond 90 days without qualifying for one of the § 9-12.03 exceptions, failing to board an open vacant structure with half-inch exterior-grade plywood under § 9-12.04, or failing to register a vacant property with the Finance Department within ten business days under § 9-12.05 is a misdemeanor under § 9-12.08, enforced by the Neighborhood Preservation Manager's monitoring program.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a building sit vacant in Madera before it violates the code?
Do I have to register a vacant property with the city?
How must a vacant building be secured in Madera?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera
California rules heatmap·Compare Madera to another location·View the California property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.