Brentwood, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

690 of the Brentwood Municipal Code channels adult-oriented businesses into six planned development zoning districts: PD-6, PD-36, PD-38, PD-51, PD-52, and PD-53. 030(B) keeps a 1,000-foot buffer around three kinds of uses: any existing residential zoning district or use, any other adult-oriented business inside or outside the city, and any existing park, playground, religious facility, school, or property zoned open space, public facilities, or semipublic facilities. Distances are measured in a straight line from the nearest exterior wall of the adult business to the nearest property line of the protected use, and the same 1,000-foot buffers apply to residential districts, parks, schools, day care facilities, youth-oriented establishments, and churches shown on a neighboring jurisdiction's general plan, not just Brentwood's own.

040 makes clear that no adult-oriented business may open by right anywhere in the city: the operator must first obtain both an adult-oriented business permit and a separate business license, and the applicant carries the burden of proving the permit should be granted. The application, filed with the community development department, must include ownership and management identification, a scaled floor plan, a straight-line distance drawing to every protected use within 1,000 feet, a lighting and parking diagram with a photometric study, and a security plan with police-accessible video coverage approved by the chief of police.

The planning commission has 45 days to hold a public hearing and 60 days from a complete application to grant, conditionally grant, or deny the permit; a decision can be appealed to the city council in writing within 10 days.