Madera County, CA Property Maintenance: Weeds & Overgrown Grass (2026)

Weeds and dry grass are regulated as a fire and health nuisance under Madera County Code Chapter 7.26 (Weed Abatement) in the unincorporated area. Section 7.26.030 (Requirements) states that 'For improved lots, a strip of land thirty feet wide surrounding the entire exterior of any improvement shall be cleared of weeds,' with the caveat that if any portion of the improvement lies within thirty feet of the property line, removal need only occur up to the property line. Importantly, '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.' The owner of record has fifteen days from the date of the notice to abate the hazard or file a written protest, and the Madera County fire chief has discretion to extend the abatement deadline beyond May 1. This local chapter works alongside California's broader defensible-space requirements (Public Resources Code Section 4291 / Government Code Section 51182), which require 100 feet of clearance around structures in State Responsibility Area lands - much of foothill and mountain Madera County. Where the county chapter and state defensible-space law overlap, the more protective standard effectively controls for wildfire safety.