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Wildfire Mitigation Contractors in Madera County, CA
Madera County in 30 secondsContractors, local rules, where to get help
10 wildfire mitigation contractors are listed for Madera County, 8 with a clear CSLB license.
- Fire hazard zones
- Look up your address
CAL FIRE's 2025 hazard maps, the first to rate Moderate and High as well as Very High hazard in locally protected areas, designate more than 400,000 acres of Madera County as fire-prone; new Moderate areas include parts of Tesoro Viejo and Bonadelle Ranchos. Look up a parcel in CAL FIRE's FHSZ Viewer.
- Defensible space rules
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Madera County Code Chapter 7.26 (Weed Abatement) declares weeds a seasonal, recurring nuisance in the unincorporated county. Before the May 1 plow-down date each year, owners of improved lots must clear weeds from a 30-foot strip around every structure, shed, fuel tank, fence and similar improvement (only up to the property line); improved lots under 3 acres may instead be mowed to half an inch to an inch and kept that way all season. Vacant lots need a 30-foot cleared strip along every property line and street frontage. Discing, rototilling, plowing or mowing is allowed, but burning is not. Grazed, irrigated or cultivated land is exempt if growth stays under 6 inches. Missing the deadline is an infraction with a fine of up to $250; the county can then clear the lot and add its costs plus an administrative charge to the tax bill or record a lien, and a lot that helps spread a fire may be charged fire suppression costs. If weeds grow back, the fire department mails a notice and the owner has 15 days to abate or file a protest.
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Madera County Code Chapter 7.26 requires every owner in the unincorporated county to clear weeds by the May 1 plow-down date, including a 30-foot strip around homes and other improvements, and the Madera County Fire Department can fine owners up to $250 and bill them for county abatement. In the foothill State Responsibility Area, CAL FIRE's Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit also runs LE-100 defensible space inspections. CAL FIRE's 2025 hazard maps designate more than 400,000 acres of Madera County as fire-prone. Contractors below are ranked by public Google rating.
Services in Madera County
Serving all of California 8
Also on record 2
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High Tie Timber
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Lepley Trees
Defensible space rules in Madera County
Fire hazard zones in Madera County
According to Fresnoland, CAL FIRE’s 2025 hazard maps, the first in more than a decade to rate Moderate and High hazard in locally protected areas, designate more than 400,000 acres of Madera County as fire-prone, with new Moderate areas that include parts of Tesoro Viejo and Bonadelle Ranchos. CAL FIRE’s 2026 Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit fire plan calls the Oakhurst basin the most densely populated part of the unit’s State Responsibility Area, alongside Ahwahnee, Raymond and Bass Lake. Check your parcel in CAL FIRE’s FHSZ Viewer.
Local rules and deadlines
Madera County Code Chapter 7.26 sets a May 1 plow-down date. Improved lots need a 30-foot weed-free strip around structures, sheds, fuel tanks and fences, or, under 3 acres, can be mowed to half an inch to an inch; vacant lots need 30-foot strips along property lines and road frontage. Burning isn’t allowed. Missing the deadline is an infraction with a fine of up to $250, and the county can clear the lot and put the cost plus an administrative charge on the tax bill. In the SRA, CAL FIRE’s LE-100 inspectors check PRC 4291 defensible space; the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit completed 7,812 inspections across its three counties in 2025.
Free chipping and fire-safe programs
The Coarsegold Resource Conservation District runs an Eastern Madera County Firewise USA defensible space program that helps primary residences in established Firewise communities with brushing, limbing and removal within 100 feet of the home. CAL FIRE’s unit plan also lists the Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council and the North Fork RCD as partners on fuel-reduction projects.
County resources
Read Chapter 7.26 for the full abatement rules, or call the Weed Abatement Compliance Officer at (559) 675-7799. The contractors listed below serve Madera County and can disc, mow or clear a property before the May 1 deadline.
Frequently asked questions 5
Who enforces weed abatement in Madera County?
The Madera County Fire Department enforces Chapter 7.26 in the unincorporated county, and questions go to its Weed Abatement Compliance Officer at (559) 675-7799. In the State Responsibility Area, CAL FIRE's Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit also inspects homes for defensible space under PRC 4291 through its LE-100 program.
What is the deadline?
May 1 every year, the county's plow-down date, unless the fire chief publishes a later date. The fire department mails notices by March 1, and because weeds grow back, clearance has to be kept up through the whole fire season.
What happens if I don't clear my lot?
Missing the deadline is an infraction with a fine of up to $250. The county can hire a contractor to clear the lot and bill you for the cost plus an administrative fee, which becomes a special assessment on your tax bill and can be recorded as a lien. You can pay within 30 days or request a hearing.
How much do I have to clear?
A 30-foot strip around every structure and improvement on an improved lot (up to the property line), or, on improved lots under 3 acres, mow the whole lot to half an inch to an inch. Vacant lots need 30-foot strips along each property line and street frontage. Burning the weeds is not allowed.
Is there help for foothill homeowners?
The Coarsegold Resource Conservation District runs an Eastern Madera County Firewise USA defensible space program for primary residences in established Firewise communities that have vegetation within 100 feet of the home needing brushing, limbing or removal; apply by email to the district.