Swimming Pools & Hot Tubs

1. Contractors who are licensed by the State of California with a classification appropriate for the work that will be performed and have a current Business Tax Certificate.

2. Owners of a building or their legal representative.

Planning Review is required to construct, repair, or alter private swimming pools or hot tubs, along with Building Permits. Pumps and motors will need to comply with allowable noise decibel levels and may require screening.

The Swimming Pool Safety Act must be followed when newly constructing or altering a Swimming Pool or Hot Tub.

Two of the seven safety features need to be present before a Building Permit is finaled for the construction of a new swimming pool/hot tub or for remodeling an existing swimming pool/hot tub:

• See Section 115922 of the Swimming Pool Safety Act for all seven safety features.

Pool contractors are encourage to share pool safety materials such as the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, Drowning Prevention Foundation, California Coalition for Children's Safety & Health, Safe Kids Worldwide, Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, or the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding the potential dangers of a swimming pool/hot tub poses for toddlers. 

See the Electrical Checklist for requirements on electrical components.

See the Swimming Pool Safety Act for all regulations that must be followed.

Planning Review is required to construct, repair, or alter public swimming pools or hot tubs, along with Building Permits.

Public swimming pools/hot tubs are those located in or designated as the following: commercial building, hotel, motel, resort, mobile home park, apartment complex, condominium, school, medical facility, bed and breakfast, licensed day-care, recreation and park district and municipal pools.

For public pools, California's Building Code Chapter 31B and Health and Safety Code mandate comprehensive safety measures, robust construction standards, and strict water quality protocols. There are also federal and state accessibility requirements.

These regulations cover everything from the physical design and safety equipment to ongoing operational requirements and sanitation, all enforced by state and local health agencies. Plans must be submitted and approved before construction begins.

Regarding construction and physical safety, a public pool must be enclosed by a fence or barrier at least 5 feet high, with self-closing and self-latching gates that open away from the pool area. The pool deck must be at least 4 feet wide, constructed of a slip-resistant material, and sloped away from the pool for proper drainage. All pools must have clearly visible depth markers and "NO DIVING" signs posted in conspicuous locations where appropriate. Safety equipment, such as life rings and reaching poles, must also be readily available.

On the operational side, pool water must be maintained at specified chemical levels to ensure sanitation. Public pools and spas require regular testing and logging of disinfectant (e.g., chlorine or bromine) and pH levels, with frequency dependent on usage. In spas, the water temperature must not exceed 104°F. The code also includes specific requirements for filtration, circulation systems, and the design of drains to prevent suction entrapment.

See California's Building Code Chapter 31B Public Swimming Pools for all regulations that must be followed.