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Madera, CA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Registration authority
Neighborhood Revitalization Department
Registration term
3 years
Required info
Address, APN, unit count, owner contact
Cure period
30 days to report changes
Penalty for lapse
Registration Delinquency Fee (§ 4-16.07(D))

Summary

Madera Municipal Code § 4-16.05 makes it unlawful to operate rental housing in the city without a City Rental Business License covering every property the same owner holds, a per-unit registration filed with the Neighborhood Revitalization Department, and current payment of all chapter fees.

(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of rental housing, unless: (1) A City Rental Business License is obtained by the Owner of such Rental Housing Unit(s) and all properties located within the limits of the City that are owned by the same Owner are listed under such Rental Business License and an accurate account of the gross receipts are provided. Pursuant to §§ 6-1.22 and 6-1.28 of this code; and (2) Each Rental Housing Unit is registered with the City pursuant to subsection 4-16.05(B) of this section; and (3) All fees associated with the provisions of this chapter are paid when payment is due.

View official code

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

05, enacted with the rest of the Rental Housing Inspection Program in 2017 under Ord. 28. An owner's license must list every rental property the owner holds within Madera and report accurate gross receipts, not just the property in question. 08, and the Rental Housing Inspection Program fee. That contact information is kept confidential and for internal City use only, as far as the law allows. 05(D) makes it valid for three years, or less if the owner fails to report a change in the registered information within 30 days or falls behind on chapter fees. 05(C). 07(D) after a 30-day cure notice.

Violations & Fines

Operating rental housing without the required City Rental Business License, unit registration, or current fee payment violates § 4-16.05, and knowingly falsifying registration information is separately unlawful under § 4-16.05(C). Unregistered owners also face a Registration Delinquency Fee under § 4-16.07(D), on top of the chapter's general misdemeanor and administrative penalties at § 4-16.26.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Madera landlords have to register every rental unit?
Yes. Section 4-16.05(B) requires the owner to register each Rental Housing Unit with the Neighborhood Revitalization Department, providing the address, Assessor's Parcel Number, unit count, and current contact information for the owner and a Local contact representative.
How long does a Madera rental registration last?
Three years under § 4-16.05(D), or less if the owner does not report a change in the registered information within 30 days or falls behind on the chapter's fees, either of which ends the registration early.
What happens if I rent out a unit in Madera without registering it?
You're operating in violation of § 4-16.05, which can bring a Registration Delinquency Fee under § 4-16.07(D) plus the chapter's general misdemeanor and administrative penalties at § 4-16.26, in addition to remaining subject to all inspection requirements.

Sources & Official References

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