5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Kern County, California.
Verified from official government sources
A building permit from the Kern County Building Inspection Division is required before constructing any swimming pool, spa or hot tub in unincorporated Kern County. The County adopts the 2019 California Building, Residential and Plumbing Codes, and Appendix M of the adopted Plumbing Code (Kern County Code section 17.20.190) requires that the method of pool wastewater disposal be approved by the Administrative Authority before any work begins. Pre-gunite, electrical and final inspections are required.
Kern County Code of Ordinances section 17.20.190 (Plumbing Code Appendix M, items M1 and M10)
M1. Swimming pool wastewater shall be disposed of as hereinafter set forth in this section and the type of disposal proposed shall be approved by the administrative authority prior to the commencement of any work. ... M10. Plans for other than private swimming pools shall be approved by the health officer before any water supply or waste discharge permit is issued.
Unincorporated Kern County enforces the California Residential Code Appendix V and the state Swimming Pool Safety Act, which require pool enclosures at least 60 inches tall, with self-closing/self-latching gates that open away from the pool, and no more than 2 inches of ground clearance. The Kern County Residential Code is the 2019 CRC including Appendix V, adopted by reference under Kern County Code section 17.06.030.
Kern County Code of Ordinances section 17.06.030 (Code of Building Regulations adopting 2019 CRC incl. Appendix V)
17.06.030 California Residential Code - Adopted. California Code of Regulations, Title 24 Part 2.5 being that portion of the 2019 edition of the California Building Standards Code, referred to as the California Residential Code, including Appendix Chapters H, K, and V, and as modified and amended by this chapter, is adopted by this reference into the Kern County Residential Code.
When unincorporated Kern County issues a permit to build or remodel a pool or spa at a private single-family home, state law requires at least two of seven drowning prevention safety features, verified by the building official before final approval.
California Health and Safety Code Section 115922
(a) Except as provided in Section 115925, subject to subdivision (b), and consistent with Section 1596.814, when a building permit is issued for the construction of a new swimming pool or spa or the remodeling of an existing swimming pool or spa at a private single-family home, the respective swimming pool or spa shall be equipped with at least two of the following seven drowning prevention saf...
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act defines a pool as any structure holding water over 18 inches deep and expressly includes above-ground structures, so above-ground pools in unincorporated Kern County face the same drowning prevention and permit rules as in-ground pools.
California Health and Safety Code Section 115921(a)
"Swimming pool" or "pool" means any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 18 inches deep. "Swimming pool" includes in-ground and aboveground structures and includes, but is not limited to, hot tubs, spas, portable spas, and nonportable wading pools.
Hot tubs and spas count as swimming pools under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act, but units fitted with a locking safety cover meeting the ASTM International F1346 standard are exempt from the Act's drowning prevention requirements in unincorporated Kern County.
California Health and Safety Code Section 115925
The requirements of this article do not apply to any of the following: (a) Public swimming pools. (b) Hot tubs or spas with locking safety covers that comply with the ASTM International F1346 standard. (c) An apartment complex, or any residential setting other than a single-family home.
3 cities in Kern County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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