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Madera County, CA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Permit threshold
300+ attendees at one time
Under threshold
Register only, no permit
Standard filing deadline
15 days before event
Insurance
Required, county as additional insured

Summary

Street fairs, flea markets, and festivals in unincorporated Madera County need an outdoor event permit once they're expected to draw 300 or more people at a time.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Madera County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

An outdoor event permit shall only be required if the outdoor event is likely to attract three hundred or more persons at one given time. The planning director has the discretion to determine if an outdoor event requires a permit and may use discretion in determining the total number of visitors at a given event.

View official code

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 § 5.16.010 defines a permit-triggering 'outdoor event' to include 'craft fair or show, antique show, flea market, swap meet, carnival, theme fair, cultural celebration' along with music and dance festivals. Under § 5.16.020, 'an outdoor event permit shall only be required if the outdoor event is likely to attract three hundred or more persons at one given time'; smaller fairs need only register with the planning department. Vendors selling food or causing a road closure trigger the longer sixty-day filing window, and every permitted fair must carry liability insurance naming the county as an additional insured (§ 5.16.040).

Violations & Fines

Running an unpermitted street fair or festival expected to draw 300 or more attendees, or one without required insurance, is a misdemeanor under Chapter 1.12 and grounds for permit denial or revocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a small craft fair in Madera County need a permit?
Only if it's likely to draw 300 or more people at once; otherwise it just needs to be registered with the planning department at least 15 days ahead.
What events count as an 'outdoor event' under Madera County's permit rule?
Craft fairs, antique shows, flea markets, swap meets, carnivals, theme fairs, and cultural celebrations are all named in § 5.16.010, alongside parades and festivals.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Madera County

Block Party PermitsSome RestrictionsParade PermitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions

All Madera County rules

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Street Fair Rules in Cities Across Madera County

Madera, CA