How Brentwood Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Brentwood maintains 142 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Brentwood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Brentwood requires a permit before anyone trims, cuts, or removes a street tree or city-owned tree. Municipal Code § 7.03.030 makes it unlawful to trim, cut, mutilate, or injure any such tree, or its roots or branches, without a permit from the director.

Key details: Governing section: BMC § 7.03.030. Permit needed for: Trim, cut, or remove street/city tree. Permit-granting authority: Parks and recreation director. Removal permits: Engineering dept. encroachment permit (§ 7.03.060). Scope: Public streets, rights-of-way, city property.

Cutting, trimming, mutilating, or removing a street or city-owned tree without a permit violates Section 7.03.030 and, if it causes damage, Section 7.03.110. Violations of Title 7 are enforced as misdemeanors under Section 7.07.020, punishable by a minimum $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, or the city may instead issue an administrative citation.

Tree Trimming

Brentwood property owners must trim trees overhanging a public street, alley, or place to keep at least 10 feet of clearance above a sidewalk and 15 feet above the street. Municipal Code § 7.03.090 lets the city trim non-compliant trees and bill the owner.

Key details: Governing section: BMC § 7.03.090. Sidewalk clearance: 10 feet minimum. Street clearance: 15 feet minimum. Permit for routine trimming: Not required. If owner fails to trim: City trims, bills owner (recoverable in court).

Failing to maintain the 10-foot sidewalk and 15-foot street clearance required by Section 7.03.090 lets the director order the tree trimmed by city crews or a contractor, with the cost charged to and collectible from the responsible property owner as a valid claim in court; a nuisance-tree determination under Section 7.03.080 follows the same notice-and-abatement path.

Water Restrictions

Brentwood bans irrigating with potable water between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. year-round and for 48 hours after measurable rain. The rule sits in the city's water-waste code, enforced by the public works department against any customer of the municipal water system.

Key details: Irrigation hours banned: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Post-rain restriction: 48 hours after measurable rainfall. Leak repair window: 48 hours after discovery. Hose washing rule: shut-off nozzle required. Enforcement section: BMC § 14.01.1015.

A violation of Section 14.01.510 is unlawful and is enforced under Section 14.01.1015 of the water code chapter, which lets the city pursue corrective notices, service charges, or termination procedures against the account of record. The public works director administers enforcement, and repeated waste after a 48-hour correction window (for a known leak) is treated as a separate, continuing violation tied to the customer's water account rather than a one-time citation.

Weed Ordinances

Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner maintains the noxious weed list under California Food and Agricultural Code Section 5004. Brentwood property owners must control listed species including yellow starthistle, artichoke thistle, and puncturevine, and the county may enter and abate infestations at the owner's expense.

Key details: Noxious Weeds: FAC 5004 regulation. Priority Species: Yellow starthistle and puncturevine. Authority: County Ag Commissioner can enter, abate. Right to Farm: Supports ag-adjacent weed control. Herbicides: Restricted types need licensed applicator.

Native Plants

California law strongly encourages drought-tolerant landscaping in Brentwood. HOAs cannot prohibit low-water landscaping under Civil Code Section 4735, and the state's MWELO requires water-efficient design for new and retrofit landscapes exceeding 500 square feet. Rebates are available through Contra Costa Water District partners for turf removal.

Key details: Hoas: HOAs cannot ban drought-tolerant landscaping (CC 4735). Mwelo: MWELO applies to landscapes over 500 sq ft with permit. Drip Irrigation: Drip irrigation and smart controllers required. Replacement: Turf replacement rebates available from CCWD partners. Protection: Native and edible plants protected.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Brentwood gives residents more flexibility on native plants.

The Bottom Line

Brentwood's landscaping rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Brentwood is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Brentwood's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.