The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use for ten-year minimum terms in exchange for reduced property tax assessment based on farming income.
Government Code 51200-51297.4 establishes the Williamson Act framework under which county boards of supervisors may form agricultural preserves and contract with landowners to restrict parcels to agricultural and compatible uses for renewable ten-year terms (twenty for Farmland Security Zones). In exchange, parcels are taxed based on agricultural income capacity rather than market value. The state partially reimburses counties for foregone property tax. Local governments must follow uniform statewide procedures for contract entry, renewal, nonrenewal, and cancellation. While participation by counties is optional, the contract framework, valuation method, and cancellation rules are state-mandated and uniform.
Premature contract cancellation triggers cancellation fees of 12.5 percent of the parcel's unrestricted fair market value under Government Code 51283.
Brentwood, CA
Barking dogs fall under the Contra Costa County Noisy Animal Ordinance (Code §416-12.202). Noise for 30 continuous minutes or 60 minutes intermittently in 24...
Brentwood, CA
Brentwood prohibits long-term RV, boat, trailer, and oversized vehicle parking on public streets and restricts front-yard storage on private residential prop...
Brentwood, CA
Brentwood enforces a 72-hour maximum continuous street parking limit consistent with California Vehicle Code §22651(k), along with posted street sweeping res...
Brentwood, CA
Brentwood restricts overnight parking of commercial vehicles exceeding 10,000 lbs gross vehicle weight rating in residential zones. Box trucks, semi-trailers...
Brentwood, CA
California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and in any CAL FIRE mappe...
Brentwood, CA
Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner maintains the noxious weed list under California Food and Agricultural Code Section 5004. Brentwood property ow...
See how Brentwood's agricultural zoning protection rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.