Madera County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Madera County

Madera County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It limits the floor area a home business may use and has a section on accessory structures allowed by zoning permit.

Ask about building on your lot in Madera County See coverage

Key points

Home businesses: County code limits a home business to 25% of the gross area of one floor of the residence.
Accessory structures: County code has a section on accessory structures allowed by zoning permit (§ 18.93.030).

Each rule below is marked Madera County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Madera County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Madera County have their own codes and their own pages.

Running a business from home

Madera County code What Madera County's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the gross area of one floor of the home. Includes storage space used for the business. § 18.89.020 · code text Not more than twenty-five percent of the gross area of one floor of a residence shall be used for such purpose, including storage space required in conjunction with the home occupation.

Building in a flood zone

Madera County code What Madera County's code adds
Floodplain permit	You need a development permit before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in any special flood hazard area. § 14.60.120 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 14.60.050.
Height of the lowest floor	The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 14.60.140 · code text In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. The lowest floor must be at least as high above the highest adjacent ground as the flood map depth number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map shows a depth number. § 14.60.140 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent ground. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone where the flood map shows no depth number. § 14.60.140 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an A zone where the flood map shows no base flood elevation. § 14.60.140 · code text In an A zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), elevated to or above the base flood elevation, as determined under Section 14.60.110(C).

Grading and erosion control

Madera County code Cuts may be no steeper than 1:1. Fills may be no steeper than 1½:1.

All 4 Madera County rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Madera County code What Madera County's code adds
Exemptions	No fee for rebuilding homes, businesses or industrial projects damaged or destroyed in a natural disaster the governor declares. Applies: Rebuilding after a natural disaster. § 15.02.080 · code text No fee may be applied by a local agency to the reconstruction of any residential, commercial or industrial development project that is damaged or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster as declared by the governor.

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
Zoning	A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)
Business license or fee	A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)
Local rules	Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)
Small home	Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)
Large home	7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)

Parking spaces required for homes

Madera County code One of the 2 required spaces must be covered, in a garage enclosed on all four sides or a carport. 2 parking spaces per unit.

All 4 Madera County rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Madera County code What Madera County's code adds
Election and other noncommercial signs	Up to 32 square feet. Applies: Campaign signs. § 18.90.110 · code text An additional total sign area of thirty-two square feet for the display of campaign signs;

Trash and recycling carts

Madera County code What Madera County's code adds
Where carts are kept	Keep containers on the premises. § 7.24.110 · code text Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every owner and generator shall keep upon the premises, and shall use, sufficient approved containers to hold any accumulation of solid waste between time of collection or disposal at a disposal facility. Keep containers off any road or alley right-of-way, unless the county authorizes it. Applies: Unless authorized by the county. § 7.24.110 · code text Containers shall not be placed or allowed to remain in or on any road or alley right-of-way unless authorized by the county.

Other Madera County rules on this

Madera County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Accessory structures allowed by zoning permit (§ 18.93.030)
Noise regulations (Ch. 9.58)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Madera County?

County code has a section on accessory structures allowed by zoning permit (§ 18.93.030). Madera County also has a related rule: Accessory structures allowed by zoning permit (§ 18.93.030).

Can I run a business from my home in Madera County?

County code limits a home business to 25% of the gross area of one floor of the residence.

What are the rules for building in a Madera County flood zone?

Madera County's code: You need a development permit before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in any special flood hazard area. (§ 14.60.120); The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 14.60.140).

Can I run a family child care home in Madera County?

California law sets this for every city, including Madera County: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).

What signs may I put up at my home in Madera County?

Madera County's code: Up to 32 square feet. (Campaign signs.) (§ 18.90.110).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Madera County?

Madera County's code: Keep containers on the premises. (§ 7.24.110); Keep containers off any road or alley right-of-way, unless the county authorizes it. (Unless authorized by the county.) (§ 7.24.110).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Madera County property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Madera County

Madera County Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Madera County

Buying & selling in Madera County

Foreclosure & auctions in Madera County

Madera County overview

Zoning districts in Madera County

What you can build where in Madera County