Madera County, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Madera County addresses blight in the unincorporated area primarily through its Health and Sanitation title (Title 7) and Code Enforcement division within the Community & Economic Development Department. Chapter 7.40, 'Regulation of Abandoned and Distressed Residential Properties,' identifies conditions such as overgrown and dead vegetation, dry brush, weeds, and accumulation of trash as evidence that a property requires attention, and it requires abandoned properties to be 'maintained in a manner comparable to the neighborhood standard.' Weed, rubbish and dry-grass nuisances on any parcel are handled under Chapter 7.26 (Weed Abatement). Code Enforcement is located at 200 W. 4th Street, Madera, CA 93637, (559) 675-7703, and accepts complaints through an online portal (madcoservices.com) and a Code Enforcement Complaint Form. The county also offers an Appeal and Administrative Review Form and an Abandoned Home Registration Form. Because Madera County is a charter/general-law county relying on these chapters plus state nuisance authority (California Government Code abatement provisions), blight enforcement is complaint-driven and corrective rather than punitive in the first instance. Property owners are generally given written notice and an opportunity to abate or to request a hearing before the county incurs abatement costs that can be charged back as a special assessment.