Brentwood, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed/razor/concertina wire
- Prohibited in all residential zones
- Electrified fencing
- Prohibited residential; restricted commercial
- Chain link
- Banned only if visible from public areas
- Temporary mesh/panel fencing
- Barred except construction sites/events
- Utility easements
- No fences or walls allowed
- Governing section
- BMC § 17.660.008.H
Summary
Brentwood outlaws barbed wire, razor wire, electrified fencing, and chain link visible from public areas in every residential zone. Commercial properties can use these materials only with planning commission design review or conditional use permit approval, or when another law requires them. Temporary mesh and panel fencing is barred outside construction sites and permitted events.
Prohibited Fences. The following types of fences or fencing material are prohibited within all residential zones. In commercial zones, the following types of fencing material are prohibited unless specifically approved by the planning commission in conjunction with a design review or conditional use permit, or as required by city, state, or federal laws or regulations: 1. Barbed wire, razor, or concertina wire; 2. Electrified fence; 3. Chain link fencing when visible from public areas, public rights-of-way, and/or private roadways; 4. Temporary fencing such as plastic or wire mesh fencing, barricades, and panel-system fences, except for construction sites, city-sponsored events, and temporary uses approved with a temporary use permit; 5. Fences and walls located within a public utility easement.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4604307; v5 updated 2025-12-09).
Full Breakdown
008(H) lists the fencing materials Brentwood treats as prohibited fences in every residential zone: barbed wire, razor wire, or concertina wire; electrified fencing; chain link fencing visible from public areas, public rights-of-way, or private roadways; temporary fencing such as plastic or wire mesh, barricades, and panel-system fences; and any fence or wall inside a public utility easement. In commercial zones the same list is not an outright ban, since the planning commission can approve one of these materials through a design review or a conditional use permit, or when a city, state, or federal law otherwise requires it.
The temporary-fencing prohibition itself carries built-in exceptions for active construction sites, city-sponsored events, and other temporary uses that already hold a temporary use permit, so a contractor's chain link enclosure or an event barricade is not a violation while the permit is active. Chain link is not banned outright in a residential yard: the prohibition only reaches chain link that is visible from a public area, right-of-way, or private roadway, so a section of chain link screened from view by landscaping or set well back on the lot falls outside the rule.
A homeowner replacing a broken fence panel should check the material against this list before ordering it, since Brentwood code enforcement treats the wrong material the same as any other zoning violation.
Violations & Fines
Installing a prohibited material triggers a code enforcement case under Section 1.20.010: officers can cite the property owner for an infraction, punishable by up to $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a second within a year, and up to $500 after that, with the city attorney able to escalate a repeat violation to a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and six months in jail. Every day the fence stays up counts as a separate offense until it is removed or replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chain link fencing illegal in Brentwood?
Can a business use barbed wire for security?
Can I put up temporary mesh fencing for a weekend party?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brentwood
California rules heatmap·Compare Brentwood to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle material restrictions.