Animal Ordinances in Brentwood, CA (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Brentwood, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Brentwood limits chickens, rabbits, and livestock to residential zones that allow them, with strict numeric caps and setbacks. The R-E zone permits up to 2 large livestock or 4 small livestock or 24 small animals per acre, and chicken houses must sit 60 feet from the front line and 40 feet from the sides or rear.
Brentwood Backyard Chickens and Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code §§ 6.08.010, 17.670.005
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep any chickens, ducks, pigeons, geese, turkeys, rabbits, Belgian hares, guinea pigs or other domestic fowl or animals in any enclosure in the city of Brentwood unless the exterior boundaries of the enclosure are more than twenty feet from any dwelling, church or school. ... A. Within the residential zoning districts, the standards indicat...
Dog Leash Laws
Dogs in Brentwood city parks must be leashed with a lead no longer than six feet, except in designated off-leash areas. Municipal Code § 7.02.180(R) also makes owners responsible for damage caused by their dog and for picking up its waste.
Dog Leash Rules in Brentwood Parks
Some RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code § 7.02.180(R)
R. No person having the control or care of any dog shall suffer or permit such dog to enter or remain in a park (with the exception of an area so designated as off-leash), unless it is led by a leash of suitable strength not more than six feet in length. The person owning, controlling, or having the custody of such dog shall be jointly and severally responsible for all damages caused by such d...
Breed Restrictions
Brentwood enforces Contra Costa County's behavior-based dangerous and vicious dog ordinance through Animal Services. Any dog that bites, attacks, or threatens a person or animal can be declared Potentially Dangerous or Vicious, triggering mandatory containment, muzzle, insurance, and microchip requirements. California law preempts breed-specific bans.
Animals: Dangerous Dogs
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Food & Agricultural Code § 31683 (Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dogs)
31683. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. Except ...
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is permitted in Brentwood on agricultural and most residential lots, with hive setback requirements from property lines and registration with the Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner under California Food & Ag Code §29040. Brentwood's orchard agriculture makes beekeeping especially compatible.
Animals: Beekeeping
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Food & Agricultural Code § 29040 (Apiary Registration)
29040. Every person that is the owner, broker, or is in possession of an apiary that is located within the state, on the first day of January of each year, shall register the number of colonies in each apiary that is owned or possessed by the person and the location of each apiary. Every person required to register under this article, shall do so on the first day of January of each year in whic...
Exotic Pets
California bans most exotic pets statewide under Title 14 CCR §671, which preempts local ordinances. Prohibited species include ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, monkeys, large constrictors, and most wild species. Brentwood enforces these state restrictions through Contra Costa Animal Services.
Animals: Exotic Pets
Some RestrictionsCal. Code Regs. tit. 14, § 671 (CDFW Restricted Species)
Restricted Species Permits are required for every person who imports, exports, transports, or possesses any restricted animal listed in Section 671(c), Title 14, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) (PDF) . Entitlements Fee Description Restricted Species Permit Application/Amendment New: $155.53 Renewal and Amendment: $80.60 Required for every new permit, permit renewal or amendment of a...
Wildlife Feeding
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.
Animals: Wildlife
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Fish & Game Code § 251.1 (CDFW Keep Me Wild)
CA.gov Official website of the State of California About Us Contact State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife Menu Custom Google Search Home Fishing Hunting Licensing Conservation Learning Home / HWC Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit Vision: To proactively address human-wildlife conflicts and improve wildlife incident responses; to support safe human-wildlife interactions; and to incre...
Pet Limits
Brentwood residential properties may keep no more than five dogs or cats over six months old. A household wanting six or more dogs must get a use permit for a dog fancier's license, capped at 10 dogs per acre on at least a one-acre lot, with no odor or nuisance barking beyond the property line.
Brentwood Limits Households to Five Dogs or Cats
Some RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code § 17.670.008(D); § 17.670.009(B), (F)
Dogs and Cats. ... No more than five dogs or cats over the age of six months may be kept in any residential zoning district, with the exception of the following: six or more dogs may be kept in any residential zoning district provided that a use permit is obtained for a dog fancier's license, subject to the requirements of Section 17.670.009. ... A minimum lot size of one acre shall be maintain...
Pet Groomer Rules
Brentwood's zoning code flatly bars pet grooming and boarding from qualifying as a home occupation under Municipal Code Section 17.840.007(C). Anyone who wants to groom or board animals for pay must find space in a commercial or industrial zone that allows the use outright, and get the business permits required there, instead of running the operation out of a house.
Brentwood Bans Pet Grooming as Home Business
Significant RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code § 17.840.007(C)
The following uses shall be expressly prohibited as home occupations: ... ... C. Pet grooming or boarding;
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Brentwood's general commercial (C-2) zone permits a veterinarian or pet store outright but expressly carves kennels out of that permission, and the same "excluding kennels" split repeats across the city's commercial zones, so a clinic that also boards animals overnight needs a different use classification.
Brentwood Zoning Rules for Veterinary Clinics
Some RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code § 17.260.002(A)
General retail sales excluding uses with outdoor storage or display, professional office uses; veterinarian or pet store, excluding kennels;
Bird Protection
Brentwood bans hunting, trapping, harming or possessing wild birds in city parks and open space. Municipal Code § 7.02.180(K) and (L) make it unlawful to molest, chase, shoot or trap any bird, or to remove eggs, nests or young, inside any city park or facility.
Bird Protection in Brentwood Parks
Some RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code § 7.02.180(K), (L)
K. Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot, remove, possess or throw objects at any animal, reptile, or bird; L. Remove or have in possession any wild animal, or any bird or fowl, or the eggs or nest or young of any reptile, wild animal, or bird;
Looking for Contra Costa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Brentwood city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Contra Costa County →