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Madera · Renting & eviction

Rental registration and inspections in Madera

Madera's own rules on rental registration and inspections, with the code text for every value.

Each rule below links to the section of the Madera Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Madera's code says

Madera code What Madera's code adds
Exemptions
  • Exempt: rental units routinely inspected by another government agency at least once every 3 years for substandard building violations.
    Applies: Substandard violations as defined in California Health and Safety Code § 17920.3.
    § 4-16.04 · code text
    Rental Housing Units that are subject to routine periodic inspections by another government agency, where Rental Housing Units are inspected at least once every three years to address substandard building violations as defined in Cal. Health and Safety Code § 17920.3;
  • Exempt: rental units issued a certificate of occupancy or that passed final City inspection within the past 10 years.
    § 4-16.04 · code text
    Rental Housing Units that, within the past ten years, either have been issued a certificate of occupancy or have passed final inspection by the City.
  • A property kept in compliance can be exempt up to 6 years, after 2 consecutive routine inspections with no violations.
    Applies: The exemption ends if a valid complaint leads to a notice of violation, or if ownership changes.
    § 4-16.04 · code text
    At such time that it is sufficiently demonstrated that a property is maintained in compliance with the requirements of this Code, that property shall become exempt from the requirements of this Code for a period of time not to exceed six years.
Inspections
  • Each rental housing property or unit must be inspected at least once every 3 years.
    Applies: Unless the frequency is otherwise set for repeat-compliant or noncompliant properties (4-16.09, 4-16.15).
    § 4-16.06 · code text
    The frequency of such routine periodic inspections shall be set on a three year basis where each Rental Housing Property or Rental Housing Unit subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be inspected at least once every three years unless otherwise set pursuant to § 4-16.09 or § 4-16.15 of this Code.
  • The City must routinely inspect at least 10% of Self-Certification Program units.
    Applies: Applies to units inspected through the Self-Certification Program.
    § 4-16.06 · code text
    except those Rental Housing Units inspected through the Self-Certification Program where a minimum of 10% of such units shall be subject to routine periodic inspection by the City.
Penalty
  • A re-scheduling fee may be imposed. The amount is not stated.
    Applies: The owner or local contact representative is not present at the inspection at the scheduled time.
    § 4-16.06 · code text
    Violation of this subsection may result in the imposition of a re-scheduling fee.
  • A re-scheduling fee may be imposed. The amount is not stated.
    Applies: Violating the inspection rescheduling rules: one reschedule, to a date within 30 calendar days of the original.
    § 4-16.13 · code text
    An inspection may only be rescheduled to a date within 30 calendar days of the previously scheduled inspection date. Violation of this section may result in the imposition of a re-scheduling fee.
Registration
  • Each rental housing unit must be registered with the City.
    Applies: A rental business may not operate without registering each unit.
    § 4-16.05 · code text
    Each Rental Housing Unit is registered with the City pursuant to subsection 4-16.05(B) of this section;
  • Valid for 3 years, or until the owner fails to report a registration change within 30 days, whichever is sooner.
    § 4-16.05 · code text
    Registration shall be valid for a period of three years or until one of the following circumstances occurs, whichever is sooner: (1) The Owner fails to notify the Rental Housing Inspections Division of any change in the information submitted pursuant to § 4-16.05(B) of this section, within 30 days of such change;

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Must landlords register or inspect rental units in Madera?

Madera's code: Exempt: rental units routinely inspected by another government agency at least once every 3 years for substandard building violations. (Substandard violations as defined in California Health and Safety Code § 17920.3.) (§ 4-16.04); Exempt: rental units issued a certificate of occupancy or that passed final City inspection within the past 10 years. (§ 4-16.04).

General information, not legal advice.

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