Under the Council/Manager format, the City Council is the official and legally constituted legislative body for the City of Brea. It sets all policy necessary for the provision of public services to the Brea community and adopts ordinances and resolutions as expressions of those policies. The City Council hires the City Manager, a trained professional in the administration of municipal corporations, who implements Council policy through the various City operating departments. The Council also appoints the City Attorney to provide counsel on city matters.

Brea was incorporated in 1917 under the California Municipal Code as a General Law City. The city is governed by a five-member City Council, elected from the city at large for terms of four years each. Elections are held every two years (in the even numbered years) to fill alternately two and three seats. Each year the Council elects one of its members to serve as Mayor for a one-year term. City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Civic and Cultural Center, 1 Civic Center Circle. Council meetings are televised on Channel 3 via cable.

The Council appoints a City Manager who is responsible for implementing policies adopted by the Council. He or she directs the activities of the major city departments and advises the Council on matters affecting the city.

Members of the Planning Commission; Parks, Recreation and Human Services Commission; Cultural Arts Commission and Traffic Committee are appointed by members of the Council. There are also numerous committees and citizen advisory groups that allow input from the community.