Brentwood, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household pet cap
- 5 dogs or cats over 6 months
- Dog fancier license threshold
- 6+ dogs, use permit required
- Minimum lot size for license
- 1 acre
- Max density under license
- 10 dogs per acre
- Governing section
- BMC §§ 17.670.008(D), 17.670.009
Summary
Brentwood residential properties may keep no more than five dogs or cats over six months old. A household wanting six or more dogs must get a use permit for a dog fancier's license, capped at 10 dogs per acre on at least a one-acre lot, with no odor or nuisance barking beyond the property line.
Dogs and Cats. ... No more than five dogs or cats over the age of six months may be kept in any residential zoning district, with the exception of the following: six or more dogs may be kept in any residential zoning district provided that a use permit is obtained for a dog fancier's license, subject to the requirements of Section 17.670.009. ... A minimum lot size of one acre shall be maintained; ... No more than ten dogs, over the age of six months, per acre shall be allowed. The maximum number of dogs allowed shall be determined through the use permit process;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4604307; v5 updated 2025-12-09).
Full Breakdown
008(D) sets Brentwood's household pet cap: no more than five dogs or cats over six months old may be kept in any residential zoning district. 009 and comes with its own conditions. The lot must be at least one acre, every dog has to be confined on the premises or exercised under the owner's control, and each dog needs adequate shelter. The kennel cannot generate odor beyond the property line, and the density cap under the license is 10 dogs over six months old per acre, with the planning commission setting the actual maximum allowed through the use permit process itself.
009. 008(B), and larger domestic or exotic animals are governed separately by the Contra Costa County Animal Code that the city has adopted by reference.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than five dogs or cats without a dog fancier's license is enforced as a zoning violation under Section 1.20.010: a first infraction is punishable by a fine up to $100, a second within a year up to $200, and further violations up to $500, or the city attorney can charge a repeat offense as a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and six months in jail. A licensed dog fancier who breaks any condition risks having the planning commission revoke the license outright after a hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally own in Brentwood?
What does a dog fancier's license require?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brentwood
California rules heatmap·Compare Brentwood to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle pet limits.