Brentwood's Tree Protection: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles tree protection a little differently. In Brentwood, California, there are 2 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.

Parkway Planting

Planting a tree in the Brentwood parkway strip requires an encroachment permit from the engineering department. Municipal Code § 7.03.060 makes it unlawful to plant any tree or shrubbery on a street, public right-of-way, park, or public place without one.

Key details: Governing section: BMC § 7.03.060. Permit type: Engineering dept. encroachment permit. Right-of-way defined: Curb to curb / sidewalk to sidewalk. Appeal window: 5 days, in writing, to tree board. Maintenance duty: Property owner, per § 7.03.070.

Planting a tree or shrub in a public right-of-way, park, or parkway without the required encroachment permit violates Section 7.03.060 and is enforced as a Title 7 misdemeanor under Section 7.07.020: a minimum $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, or an administrative citation under Chapter 1.24.

Protected Tree Species

Within the PD-20 planned development zone, Brentwood Municipal Code § 17.470.006 protects native oak trees of four-inch caliper or greater from grading, trenching and construction damage. Builders must fence, map and often replace protected oaks before a grading permit is finalized.

Key details: Governing section: BMC § 17.470.006. Applies within: PD-20 zone (720 acres). Protected size: 4-inch caliper or greater. Dripline buffer: 1 foot fence outside dripline. No-cut/fill zone: 10 feet from trunk.

The community development department enforces § 17.470.006 through the grading plan and tree report review process rather than a standalone citation schedule; an unapproved tree report or missing dripline fencing will hold up grading plan sign-off. Damage to a protected oak's root zone during construction can trigger required remediation, replacement with a 48-inch box blue oak, and forfeiture of the developer's maintenance bond if the replacement tree fails within its first year.

The Bottom Line

Brentwood's tree protection 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.