The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use for ten-year minimum terms in exchange for reduced property tax assessment based on farming income.
Government Code 51200-51297.4 establishes the Williamson Act framework under which county boards of supervisors may form agricultural preserves and contract with landowners to restrict parcels to agricultural and compatible uses for renewable ten-year terms (twenty for Farmland Security Zones). In exchange, parcels are taxed based on agricultural income capacity rather than market value. The state partially reimburses counties for foregone property tax. Local governments must follow uniform statewide procedures for contract entry, renewal, nonrenewal, and cancellation. While participation by counties is optional, the contract framework, valuation method, and cancellation rules are state-mandated and uniform.
Premature contract cancellation triggers cancellation fees of 12.5 percent of the parcel's unrestricted fair market value under Government Code 51283.
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Habitual barking is regulated through Madera County Code Chapter 9.58 (Noise Regulations) and Chapter 6.04 (Animal Control). A barking dog that disturbs neig...
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Madera County Code Chapter 9.58 (Noise Regulations) governs unincorporated areas. A March 2025 update set quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. with decibel-lim...
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Madera County requires apiary registration with the Agricultural Commissioner, either directly or via the statewide BeeWhere portal. Cal. Food & Ag Code §290...
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Madera County allows poultry and livestock in agricultural and large-lot residential zones under Title 18 (Zoning). Section 18.04.190 (Farm, poultry) defines...
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Madera County Code § 6.04.580 (Running at large) prohibits dogs from being on public streets, roads, parks or another's private property without restraint. D...
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Most of unincorporated Madera County is mapped by CAL FIRE as State Responsibility Area, with the eastern foothills (Oakhurst, Coarsegold, North Fork, Bass L...
See how Madera's agricultural zoning protection rules stack up against other locations.
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