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Swimming Pools & Spas in San Rafael, CA (2026)

2 verified swimming pools & spas rules for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Pool Permits

San Rafael Municipal Code Section 12.105.010 requires a building permit before anyone constructs, enlarges or alters a structure in the city, and a residential pool counts. Section 12.105.020(i) exempts only prefabricated above-ground pools under 24 inches deep holding no more than 5,000 gallons; every in-ground pool and every larger above-ground pool needs a permit from the building official.

San Rafael Swimming Pool Building Permit

Some Restrictions

San Rafael Municipal Code §§ 12.105.010, 12.105.020(i)

12.105.010 - Required. Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure ... shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit. ... 12.105.020(i): Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than twenty-four (24) inches (six hundre...

Fencing & Safety Requirements

San Rafael requires every private swimming pool to be enclosed by a barrier meeting state Health and Safety Code standards, adopted locally through the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code amendments in the building code.

San Rafael Pool Barrier Requirements

Significant Restrictions

San Rafael Municipal Code § 12.265.020 (amending ISPSC § 305.2)

Every person who owns or is in possession of any land on which there is situated a private swimming pool shall secure the pool from unauthorized entry by an enclosure that meets all of the requirements of the Health and Safety Code 115923. The enclosure shall be specifically designed to prevent unauthorized entry from adjacent private and/or public property. This enclosure shall be in addition ...

Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.

Swimming Pools & Spas in Marin County