Madera County, CA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearance width
- 30 feet from lot lines
- Deadline
- May 1 annually
- Exemption
- Grazed/pasture land under 6 in
- Scope
- Unincorporated areas only
Summary
In unincorporated Madera County, vacant lots must have a thirty-foot strip cleared of weeds along every property line and street frontage each year, with an exemption for actively grazed or irrigated pasture land.
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. Removal of the weeds and abatement of the hazard by discing, rototilling, plowing, or mowing as allowed in subsection A of this section is required. Burning is not permitted on any lot. The removal method employed must abate the hazard posed by the growth and presence of the weeds to the satisfaction of the fire department.
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
Madera County Code § 7.26.030(B) requires owners of vacant lots in the unincorporated county to clear a thirty-foot strip of weeds along every property line and street frontage before the May 1st plow-down date. The rule exempts actively grazed land, irrigated pasture, or cultivated land as long as weed growth stays under six inches. The county fire department enforces the chapter and may extend the deadline by published notice. An owner who fails to clear a vacant lot in time faces a $250 infraction fine, and the county may abate the hazard and bill the owner, recording the cost as a lien.
Violations & Fines
Failing to clear the required thirty-foot strip by May 1st is a $250 infraction; the county can abate the lot itself and record the cost as a lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide must the cleared strip be on a vacant lot?
Is grazing land exempt from vacant-lot weed clearance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera County
California rules heatmap·Compare Madera County 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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.