diff --git a/etc/neutron/rootwrap.d/iptables-firewall.filters b/etc/neutron/rootwrap.d/iptables-firewall.filters
index 0a81f9ddb48..3960a786f78 100644
--- a/etc/neutron/rootwrap.d/iptables-firewall.filters
+++ b/etc/neutron/rootwrap.d/iptables-firewall.filters
@@ -20,8 +20,5 @@ ip6tables-restore: CommandFilter, ip6tables-restore, root
 iptables: CommandFilter, iptables, root
 ip6tables: CommandFilter, ip6tables, root
 
-# neutron/agent/linux/iptables_firewall.py
-sysctl: CommandFilter, sysctl, root
-
 # neutron/agent/linux/ip_conntrack.py
 conntrack: CommandFilter, conntrack, root
diff --git a/neutron/agent/linux/iptables_firewall.py b/neutron/agent/linux/iptables_firewall.py
index f68ebc5403d..daa400d23d7 100644
--- a/neutron/agent/linux/iptables_firewall.py
+++ b/neutron/agent/linux/iptables_firewall.py
@@ -19,17 +19,15 @@ import netaddr
 from neutron_lib import constants
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as logging
-from oslo_log import versionutils
 from oslo_utils import netutils
 import six
 
-from neutron._i18n import _, _LI, _LW
+from neutron._i18n import _LI
 from neutron.agent import firewall
 from neutron.agent.linux import ip_conntrack
 from neutron.agent.linux import ipset_manager
 from neutron.agent.linux import iptables_comments as ic
 from neutron.agent.linux import iptables_manager
-from neutron.agent.linux import utils
 from neutron.common import constants as n_const
 from neutron.common import ipv6_utils
 from neutron.common import utils as c_utils
@@ -85,52 +83,10 @@ class IptablesFirewallDriver(firewall.FirewallDriver):
             lambda: collections.defaultdict(list))
         self.pre_sg_members = None
         self.enable_ipset = cfg.CONF.SECURITYGROUP.enable_ipset
-        self._enabled_netfilter_for_bridges = False
         self.updated_rule_sg_ids = set()
         self.updated_sg_members = set()
         self.devices_with_updated_sg_members = collections.defaultdict(list)
 
-    def _enable_netfilter_for_bridges(self):
-        # we only need to set these values once, but it has to be when
-        # we create a bridge; before that the bridge module might not
-        # be loaded and the proc values aren't there.
-        if self._enabled_netfilter_for_bridges:
-            return
-        else:
-            self._enabled_netfilter_for_bridges = True
-
-        # These proc values ensure that netfilter is enabled on
-        # bridges; essential for enforcing security groups rules with
-        # OVS Hybrid.  Distributions can differ on whether this is
-        # enabled by default or not (Ubuntu - yes, Redhat - no, for
-        # example).
-        LOG.debug("Enabling netfilter for bridges")
-        try:
-            entries = utils.execute(
-                ['sysctl', '-N', 'net.bridge'], run_as_root=True,
-                log_fail_as_error=False).splitlines()
-        except utils.ProcessExecutionError:
-            LOG.info(_LI("Process is probably running in namespace or "
-                         "kernel module br_netfilter is not loaded. "
-                         "Please ensure that netfilter options for bridge "
-                         "are enabled to provide working security groups."))
-            return
-
-        for proto in ('ip', 'ip6'):
-            knob = 'net.bridge.bridge-nf-call-%stables' % proto
-            if knob not in entries:
-                raise SystemExit(
-                    _("sysctl value %s not present on this system.") % knob)
-            enabled = utils.execute(['sysctl', '-b', knob])
-            if enabled != '1':
-                versionutils.report_deprecated_feature(
-                    LOG,
-                    _LW('Bridge firewalling is disabled; enabling to make '
-                        'iptables firewall work. This may not work in future '
-                        'releases.'))
-                utils.execute(
-                    ['sysctl', '-w', '%s=1' % knob], run_as_root=True)
-
     @property
     def ports(self):
         return dict(self.filtered_ports, **self.unfiltered_ports)
@@ -196,7 +152,6 @@ class IptablesFirewallDriver(firewall.FirewallDriver):
     def prepare_port_filter(self, port):
         LOG.debug("Preparing device (%s) filter", port['device'])
         self._set_ports(port)
-        self._enable_netfilter_for_bridges()
         # each security group has it own chains
         self._setup_chains()
         return self.iptables.apply()