4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Butte County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Any new or remodeled swimming pool or spa in unincorporated Butte County requires a building permit from the Butte County Department of Development Services Building Division; plans must show compliance with the 2025 California Building Standards Code (effective January 1, 2026) and the California Swimming Pool Safety Act drowning-prevention features.
Butte County Development Services Building Division program description and California Health and Safety Code section 115924
The Department of Development Services has three divisions; Building, Planning, and Code Enforcement. The Building Division administers State and County building codes and ordinances to ensure buildings are safe for occupancy. This is accomplished by issuing permits, performing plan review, and conducting onsite inspections. The 2025 California Building Standards became effective on January 1, ...
Residential pools and spas in unincorporated Butte County must comply with California Health and Safety Code section 115922 et seq., which requires installation of at least two of seven approved drowning prevention safety features at the time of construction or remodel; the most common option is a 60-inch-tall isolation enclosure with a self-closing, self-latching gate that swings away from the pool.
California Health and Safety Code section 115922(a)
(a) Except as provided in Section 115925, whenever a building permit is issued for the construction of a new swimming pool or spa, or any building permit is issued for remodeling of an existing pool or spa, at a private single-family home, it shall be equipped with at least two of the following seven drowning prevention safety features: (1) An enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 11...
Pool construction in unincorporated Butte County must meet the California Building Code and Swimming Pool Safety Act — a 60-inch barrier, anti-entrapment drain covers, and electrical bonding. A county building permit and inspections are required.
Above-ground pools holding more than 18 inches of water in unincorporated Butte County require a county building permit and the same barrier protection as in-ground pools; ladders must be removable or secured when unattended.
1 cities in Butte County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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