Earlier editions: 2026-09
Madera County Municipal Code Ch. 18.53 Agricultural Zone Districts
Madera County Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Madera County
Cite as: Madera County Municipal Code Chapter 18.53 · Text as of 2026-10-04
18.53.010 - Purpose of agricultural zones.¶
The purpose of the agricultural zones is to provide for areas that are rural in character or areas where agricultural uses are currently desirable. The agricultural zones are intended to accommodate a wide range of agriculture and agriculture-related uses as well as single family dwelling units.
(Ord. No. 525-769, Exh. C, 3-21-17).
18.53.020 - Use regulations of agricultural zones.¶
The regulations of this section apply in the agricultural zones unless otherwise specifically provided by footnotes indicated in the table. The uses permitted in any zone may be further limited if environmentally sensitive lands are present, pursuant to Title 16.
A. Accessory uses in the agricultural zones may be permitted in accordance with this section.
B. For any use that cannot be readily classified, the zoning administrator shall determine the appropriate use category and use subcategory pursuant to this section.
Land Use Regulations: Table for Agricultural Zones
The uses allowed in the agricultural zones are shown in the attached table.
| Symbol | Description of Symbol |
|---|---|
| P | Use or use category is permitted. Regulations pertaining to a specific use may be referenced. |
| Z | Use is permitted with limitations, which may include location limitations or the requirement for a use or Zoning Permit. |
| C | Conditional Use Permit Required. |
| — | Use or use category is not permitted. |
Permitted Land Uses in Agricultural Zone Districts
| Use Categories/ |
Use Categories/ |
Zones ( Title 18 ) | Zones ( Title 18 ) | Zones ( Title 18 ) | Zones ( Title 18 ) | Zones ( Title 18 ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Permitted | Chapter | 54 | 56 | 58 | 60 | 64 |
| Z Zoning Permit | Zone | AR-5 | ARE | ARE | ARE | ARF |
| C Conditional Use Permit | Zone | AR-5 | 20 | 40 | 80-640 | ARF |
| Accessory dwelling unit (subject to parcel size requirements and development standards as per Section 18.04.153 ) | Accessory dwelling unit (subject to parcel size requirements and development standards as per Section 18.04.153 ) | P | P | P | P | P |
| Additional dwelling units, not to exceed one unit per twenty acres of contiguous ownership of a ranch or farm | Additional dwelling units, not to exceed one unit per twenty acres of contiguous ownership of a ranch or farm | — | — | C | C | — |
| Agricultural uses | Agricultural uses | P | P | P | P | P |
| Agriculturally oriented services | Agriculturally oriented services | C | C | C | C | C |
| Agritourism (see Chapter 18.116) | Agritourism (see Chapter 18.116) | C | C | C | C | C |
| Airports, landing fields and airstrips | Airports, landing fields and airstrips | C | C | C | P | C |
| Animal hospitals, kennels and laboratories using animals or animal products (see Chapter 18.94 ) | Animal hospitals, kennels and laboratories using animals or animal products (see Chapter 18.94 ) | C | C | C | C | C |
| Cemeteries and mausoleums | Cemeteries and mausoleums | C | C | C | C | C |
| Churches, synagogues and other buildings for religious assembly | Churches, synagogues and other buildings for religious assembly | C | C | C | C | C |
| Communications tower/ |
Communications tower/ |
— | Z | Z | Z | — |
| Communications tower/ |
Communications tower/ |
C | C | C | C | C |
| Dairy | Dairy | — | C | C | C | — |
| Dormitory or attached (duplex, etc.) farm labor housing unit accommodating up to five families on parcels of thirty-six acres net (forty acres gross) or larger | Dormitory or attached (duplex, etc.) farm labor housing unit accommodating up to five families on parcels of thirty-six acres net (forty acres gross) or larger | — | — | P | P | — |
| Farm labor housing on parcels of thirty-six acres (forty acres gross) or larger | Farm labor housing on parcels of thirty-six acres (forty acres gross) or larger | — | — | C | C | — |
| Feed lots, poultry farms, fur farms, pig farms and rabbit farms (see Chapter 18.94 ) | Feed lots, poultry farms, fur farms, pig farms and rabbit farms (see Chapter 18.94 ) | — | C | C | C | — |
| Guest house | Guest house | P | P | P | P | P |
| Insecticide and pesticide services | Insecticide and pesticide services | — | C | C | C | — |
| Laboratories for testing, experimental or analytical purposes (see Chapter 18.94 ) | Laboratories for testing, experimental or analytical purposes (see Chapter 18.94 ) | C | C | C | C | C |
| Mining | Mining | — | C | C | C | — |
| One single family dwelling (permanent structure or manufactured home) | One single family dwelling (permanent structure or manufactured home) | P | P | P | P | P |
| Poultry farms, fur farms, pig farms and feedlots | Poultry farms, fur farms, pig farms and feedlots | — | C | C | C | — |
| Private clubs and outdoor recreational facilities (see Chapter 18.94 ) | Private clubs and outdoor recreational facilities (see Chapter 18.94 ) | C | C | C | C | C |
| Produce Stand | Produce Stand | Z | Z | Z | Z | Z |
| Public and commercial refuse disposal sites (see Chapter 18.94 ) | Public and commercial refuse disposal sites (see Chapter 18.94 ) | C | C | C | C | C |
| Residential care facility, large | Residential care facility, large | C | C | C | C | C |
| Residential care facility, small | Residential care facility, small | P | P | P | P | P |
| Roadside stands | Roadside stands | P | P | P | P | P |
| Solar facility | Solar facility | C | C | C | C | C |
| Winery—Micro | Winery—Micro | Z | Z | Z | Z | Z |
| Winery—Small/ |
Winery—Small/ |
C | C | C | C | C |
See 18.98 for structural regulations.
(Ord. No. 525-769, Exh. C, 3-21-17).
18.53.030 - Development standards.¶
The development standards table for agricultural zones identifies the parcel size, density standards, lot coverage, setbacks and height regulations that apply in the agricultural zones.
Parcel Size, Density and setback for Agricultural Zone Districts
| Zone | AR-5 | ARE | ARE | ARE | ARF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter | 54 | 56 | 58 | 60 | 64 | |
| 5 | 20 | 40 | 80-640 | 2½ | ||
| Maximum permitted density (DU per lot) | Maximum permitted density (DU per lot) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Minimum Lot area | Minimum Lot area | 4½ | 18 | 36 | 80 160 320 640 | 2½ |
| Minimum lot dimensions | Minimum lot dimensions | |||||
| Lot width (ft.), average | Lot width (ft.), average | 200 | 200 | 600 | 400 | 100 |
| Lot depth (ft.), minimum | Lot depth (ft.), minimum | — | — | — | — | — |
| Setback requirements | Setback requirements | |||||
| Front setback (ft.) | Front setback (ft.) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Side setback (ft.) | Side setback (ft.) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Rear setback (ft.) | Rear setback (ft.) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Maximum dwelling height | Maximum dwelling height | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| Accessory building height | Accessory building height | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Agricultural building height | Agricultural building height | 45 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Length to width ratio | Length to width ratio | |||||
| Maximum lot coverage (%) | Maximum lot coverage (%) | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 40 |
(Ord. No. 525-769, Exh. C, 3-21-17).
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