Building a swimming pool in California typically requires a residential building permit. However, this will vary from county to county, as some may have additional license requirements that others don't. Regardless of the types of permits required, you must find out and obtain the licensure.
California swimming pools and spas built or remodeled starting in 2018 must have a second safety feature to protect children from drowning. That's the main requirement in a new law that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2018, and aims to boost safety.
In California, residential swimming pools must have: Removable mesh fencing and a gate that is self-closing and self-latching and can accommodate a key lockable device. An approved safety pool cover. Exit alarms on the private single-family home's doors that provide direct access to the swimming pool or spa.
Safety Requirement Background Every pool in California over 18" deep needs a fence around it, per the California Safety Code. As defined in the "Swimming Pool Safety Act" of the code, "Swimming pool or pool means any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 18 inches deep.
For pools built after 2007, two drowning prevention or safety features are required in California, this could be a pool alarm and door alarms, or a mesh pool fence for summer and a mesh safety cover for winter.
In California, any pool regardless of its size or shape built or remodeled after 2007 requires a pool fence. This includes spas and portable, in-ground or inflatable pools that contain over 18 inches of water.
In California, residential swimming pools must have: Removable mesh fencing and a gate that is self-closing and self-latching and can accommodate a key lockable device. An approved safety pool cover. Exit alarms on the private single-family home's doors that provide direct access to the swimming pool or spa.
Any property with a pool in California must have a property fence that is at least 5' tall, measured from the opposite side of the pool. It must also have a self-closing, self-latching pool safety gate and no RV access gates. If there are automatic driveway gates, it must open and close within 20 seconds.
Ing to national standards for pool locations, a swimming pool, whether it's a lap pool or infinity pool, should be at least 10 feet away from the exterior walls of a house.
Depending on the zoning of a residential property, pools and spas must have a 5' or 10' setback between the property line and the edge of the pool or spa water. Residential zones RS-10,000, RS-7,000, RS-4,000, RG-7,000, RG-4,000, RM, VHD, PC and SP are required to have a 5' setback for all pools and spas.