Brentwood's Fire Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fire regulations a little differently. In Brentwood, California, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Wildfire Zones

Brentwood enforces the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Title 24 Part 7, as amended by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, with the fire chief handling enforcement instead of city building staff.

Key details: Governing section: BMC § 15.06.020. Code adopted: Title 24, Part 7 (Wildland-Urban Interface Code). Local amending ordinance: Fire district Ordinance 2025-15. Enforcing agency: Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. Delegation authority: Health & Safety Code § 13869.7.

Violations of the adopted Wildland-Urban Interface Code and Fire Code are enforced by the fire chief of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District or an authorized representative, pursuant to the delegation in Section 15.06.010(D) under California Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7, with remedies available under the state Building Standards Codes or Brentwood Municipal Code Title 1's general penalty provisions per Section 15.06.020(D).

Outdoor Burning

Brentwood bans burning solid waste, organic waste or recyclables outright in any street, alley, park or public place under Section 8.16.140. On private property, Section 8.16.150 requires a permit from the city's fire service provider before any burning, and Bay Area Air Quality Management District rules apply on top of the city permit.

Key details: Public place burning: Outright banned, § 8.16.140. Private property burning: Permit required from fire service provider. Air quality oversight: Bay Area Air Quality Management District rules apply. Permit denial trigger: Dense smoke, soot or obnoxious odors. Permit revocation: Fire service provider may revoke for noncompliance.

Burning solid waste, organic waste or recyclables on a Brentwood street, alley, park or other public place under Section 8.16.140 carries no permit exception and is enforceable under Section 8.16.600. Burning on private property without a fire service provider permit under Section 8.16.150 is separately unlawful, and an issued permit can be revoked for smoldering residue, dense smoke, obnoxious odors, or violating Bay Area Air Quality Management District rules.

Compared to other cities, Brentwood takes a harder line on outdoor burning. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Fireworks

Brentwood bans using, possessing, discharging, selling, storing or making fireworks anywhere in the city under Section 8.48.020, with no exception for so-called safe-and-sane fireworks. The only carve-outs in Section 8.48.030 are snap caps and party poppers, red highway flares, State Fire Marshal-approved industrial or agricultural items under permit, and a city-permitted public display.

Key details: Ban section: § 8.48.020, use/possession/sale/storage banned. Safe-and-sane fireworks: Not exempted, banned like all others. Legal exceptions: Snap caps, party poppers, highway flares. Permitted display: Needs special event permit plus fire permit. Adopted: Ordinance 966 (2016), updated by Ord. 1075 (2024).

Brentwood's fireworks chapter has no penalty section of its own, so a violation of Section 8.48.020 falls under the citywide enforcement menu in Section 1.16.010: the city can pursue a criminal misdemeanor under Chapter 1.20, an administrative citation under Chapter 1.24, or civil remedies, and each day the fireworks are possessed or stored counts as its own separate offense.

Compared to other cities, Brentwood takes a harder line on fireworks. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Brush Clearance

California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and in any CAL FIRE mapped fire hazard severity zone. Portions of eastern Brentwood abutting Mount Diablo foothills and Marsh Creek are mapped, and ECCFPD inspects compliance before fire season each year.

Key details: Requirement: 100 feet of defensible space required in fire zones. Requirement: Zone 0 (0-5 ft) must be ember-resistant per AB 3074. Vegetation Clearance: Zone 1 (5-30 ft) requires trimmed, spaced vegetation. Requirement: Zone 2 (30-100 ft) requires reduced fuel loads. Requirement: ECCFPD inspects annually with abatement and lien authority.

Smoke Detectors

All Brentwood dwelling units must have working smoke alarms under California Health and Safety Code 13113.7 and 13113.8. Alarms are required inside each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level. At sale or lease, compliance must be certified. Battery-only alarms sold after July 1, 2015 must have a non-replaceable 10-year sealed battery.

Key details: Requirement: Alarms required inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, on every level. Requirement: New construction/major remodels: hardwired with battery backup and interconnected. Requirement: Battery-only alarms sold after 7/1/2015: 10-year sealed battery required (HSC 13114). Requirement: Seller must certify smoke alarm compliance at sale (HSC 13113.8). Requirement: Replace alarms at manufacturer interval (typically 10 years).

This is one of the stricter rules in Brentwood's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Brentwood is tougher than many cities when it comes to fire regulations. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Brentwood, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Brentwood's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.