Swimming Pools, Tubs, and Spas

Introduction

To ensure the safety and well-being of our community, particularly small children, our county adheres to strict regulations regarding swimming pool construction and fencing. Please following the guidelines outlined in the Private Residential Pool/Spa Plan Checklist when making constructions plans. These guidelines are derived from both the California Residential Code Appendix AX and Humboldt County Code 332-3, with the most restrictive requirements applied. Note that public swimming pools will have additional requirements.

1. Definitions and Scope:
   • A "swimming pool" is any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 18 inches deep, including in-ground and aboveground pools, hot tubs, spas, and wading pools.
2. Fencing and Enclosure Requirements:
   • All swimming pools must be enclosed by a fence or wall at least six feet tall, constructed of durable material.
   • The enclosure must completely surround the pool, with no openings or gaps wider than 2-inches, except for gates or doors.
   • A dwelling house or accessory building may serve as part of the enclosure.
3. Gate and Door Specifications:
   • Gates or doors must be equipped with self-closing and self-latching devices.
   • Latching devices should be positioned at least 60-inches above the ground or made inaccessible to children.
   • All gates or doors must remain closed and latched when the pool is not in use or during maintenance.
4. Safety Features:
   • Upon constructing or remodeling a pool, at least two of the following safety features must be implemented:
     1. An enclosure that isolates the swimming pool from the private single-family residence.
     2. An approved safety pool cover.
     3. Exit alarms on doors providing direct access to the pool area.
     4. Self-closing, self-latching doors with high latches.
     5. Water immersion alarms that activate if someone enters the water.
     6. Other protective measures that provide equal or greater safety as confirmed by approved testing.
5. Electrical Safety:
   • All electrical installations in and around swimming pools must conform with the current California Electric Code including Article 680.
6. Construction and Inspection:
   • Plans for new swimming pools must show compliance with the above safety and fencing requirements.
   • All pool construction plans and documents must comply with California's current Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24).
   • Final approval of swimming pools will be withheld until all regulations are fully met.
7. Exemptions:
   • These regulations do not apply to natural or man-made bodies of water used primarily for purposes other than swimming, such as irrigation or livestock watering.
8. Modifications:
   • The Chief Building Inspector may approve modifications to the standard fencing requirements if alternative natural barriers or structures provide equivalent or greater protection.