Wildlife in Brentwood (deer, coyotes, turkeys, raccoons, hawks, and mountain lions in nearby Los Vaqueros Watershed) is protected under state law and managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Feeding wildlife is prohibited, and most species cannot be trapped or relocated without a CDFW depredation permit.
Wildlife management in Brentwood is governed primarily by California Fish and Game Code and CDFW regulations, with local enforcement provisions in BMC Chapter 6.04 and county code. Feeding deer, coyotes, turkeys, or other wildlife is prohibited because it habituates animals to humans and creates public-safety issues. Trapping or relocating wildlife generally requires a CDFW depredation permit; homeowners can legally exclude wildlife from structures using non-lethal barriers. Coyote encounters are handled by "hazing" (loud noises, waving arms) under CDFW guidelines; CDFW removes only those animals showing clear aggression toward humans. Mountain lion sightings are reported to CDFW and Brentwood PD. Protected species (hawks, owls, songbirds, bats) cannot be disturbed under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Wildlife rehabilitation should be handled by Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek. The proximity to the Los Vaqueros Watershed and Round Valley Regional Preserve means Brentwood residents occasionally encounter a wide range of East Bay wildlife.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Brentwood, CA
Barking dogs fall under the Contra Costa County Noisy Animal Ordinance (Code Β§416-12.202). Noise for 30 continuous minutes or 60 minutes intermittently in 24...
Brentwood, CA
Brentwood prohibits long-term RV, boat, trailer, and oversized vehicle parking on public streets and restricts front-yard storage on private residential prop...
Brentwood, CA
Brentwood enforces a 72-hour maximum continuous street parking limit consistent with California Vehicle Code Β§22651(k), along with posted street sweeping res...
Brentwood, CA
Brentwood restricts overnight parking of commercial vehicles exceeding 10,000 lbs gross vehicle weight rating in residential zones. Box trucks, semi-trailers...
Brentwood, CA
California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and in any CAL FIRE mappe...
Brentwood, CA
Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner maintains the noxious weed list under California Food and Agricultural Code Section 5004. Brentwood property ow...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Contra Costa County.
See how other cities in Contra Costa County handle wildlife feeding.
See how Brentwood's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.