Madera County, CA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential pickup
- Monday–Friday
- Commercial pickup
- Monday–Saturday
- Holidays observed
- 6 annual holidays, no service
- Coverage
- Unincorporated county only
- Franchise areas
- Valley and mountain
Summary
Unincorporated Madera County residents get solid waste pickup Monday through Friday under an exclusive county franchise system; commercial accounts run through Saturday, with no collection required on six annual holidays.
Each franchisee shall establish and maintain collection routes in such manner to provide for the uniform and efficient collection from all residential premises on a Monday through Friday basis and commercial premises on a Monday through Saturday basis. The county shall have the right at any time to direct the franchisee to change, amend, modify or otherwise revise the baseline routing and collection system provided that the rates paid to the franchisee shall be adjusted accordingly.B.Route Books and Maps. The franchisee shall prepare route books and maps for each route, which shall outline specific routing and scheduling information regarding the collection of franchise waste. The books and maps shall be kept current and shall be supplied to the county as amended.C.Customer List. The franchisee shall supply the county with the name of the owner and the address of each premises that it serves.D.Holidays. Collection of franchise waste shall not be required on the following legal holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, except in case of emergency or as otherwise authorized by the county. (Ord. No. 665C, § 1, 3-15-22).
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
The county grants exclusive solid waste franchises for two service areas, valley and mountain, so no one may collect, transport, or dispose of trash in unincorporated Madera County without a county franchise (§7.24.103). Each franchisee must run efficient routes serving all residential premises Monday through Friday and commercial premises Monday through Saturday, using route books and maps kept current with the county. Service pauses on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas unless the county authorizes emergency pickup. This chapter governs only the unincorporated county, the cities of Madera and Chowchilla run their own separate collection systems.
Violations & Fines
Collecting or hauling waste in the unincorporated county without a county franchise violates §7.24.103 and is enforceable under the chapter's general violation and nuisance-abatement provisions (§§7.24.140-142).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Madera County collect trash inside the city of Madera or Chowchilla?
What happens if my collection day falls on a holiday?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera County
California rules heatmap·Compare Madera County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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