5 rules for unincorporated Mendocino County, California.
Verified from official government sources
A building permit is required to build an in-ground swimming pool, spa, or hot tub in unincorporated Mendocino County. Permits are issued by the Planning and Building Services Department under Title 18 of the County Code, which adopts the California Residential Code. Plumbing and electrical permits are also typically required.
Outdoor swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs in unincorporated Mendocino County must be enclosed by a safety barrier meeting the California Residential Code adopted in Title 18. The barrier must be at least 60 inches high measured from the outside, with limited bottom clearance, and must be inspected and approved by a County inspector before the pool is filled.
When a building permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool or spa at a single-family home in unincorporated Mendocino County, California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code 115922) requires at least two of seven drowning-prevention features, such as an isolation fence, safety cover, or pool alarm. The County enforces this state law at permit issuance.
In unincorporated Mendocino County, prefabricated above-ground pools that sit entirely above adjacent grade and hold no more than 5,000 gallons are exempt from a building permit. Larger above-ground pools, or those needing electrical hookups, still require permits, and all outdoor pools must have a compliant safety barrier under the adopted California Residential Code.
Hot tubs and spas in unincorporated Mendocino County are treated like pools under Title 18 and the adopted California Residential Code. A spa with a locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is exempt from the full enclosure barrier requirement; otherwise the spa needs a compliant barrier. Permanently installed spas require building, plumbing, and electrical permits.
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