Madera County, CA Property Maintenance: Trash Bin Storage (2026)

Madera County Code Chapter 7.24 (Solid Waste), within Title 7 (Health and Sanitation), structures waste handling in the unincorporated area around an exclusive franchise system rather than open competition. Section 7.24.100 (Findings) records that the Board of Supervisors, acting under California Public Resources Code Sections 40002 and 40057, may provide for solid waste handling services - including source reduction, recycling, composting, and the collection, transfer and disposal of solid waste - within the unincorporated area. Two franchise zones are split by elevation: Red Rock Environmental Group serves the valley area below roughly 1,000 feet (21739 Road 19, Chowchilla, 559-665-7300), and Emadco Disposal serves the mountain area above 1,000 feet (40287 Oak Park Way, Oakhurst, 559-683-4680). Chapter 7.24, Article III is titled 'Impounding Unauthorized Containers,' meaning bins and carts placed for collection must be those authorized under the applicable franchise; unauthorized containers may be impounded. Related provisions address franchisee office requirements (Section 7.24.119) and solid waste originating from outside Madera County (Section 7.24.133). Residents should obtain carts and service directly from their zone's franchise hauler; container size, color and number are set through that franchise rather than by a separate countywide cart-specification ordinance.