5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Placer County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Placer County, building a new in-ground or above-ground pool or spa requires a building permit from the Community Development Resource Agency (CDRA) Building Services Division. Plans are reviewed under the 2022 CRC/CEC/CPC and CA Energy Code, and a signed pool barrier acknowledgment form is required before a permit issues.
Placer County Building Services Form 110C-1, Intake Requirements for Swimming Pool Structures (SFD), rev. 220215
The following items are required for a complete permit application. POOL SITE PLAN: Site Plan with TOPO Lines Reviewed by Placer County Planning Department; Code Cycle: 2022 CRC, CEC, CPC, CA Energy Code; Safety Features: pool cover, exit alarms, water entrance alarm, etc.; Fencing: no climb height (60 in above grade); Gates: 60 in height minimum, self-closing, self-latching, must swing away fr...
Under Placer County Code 15.04.320 and CBC Section 3109, a private pool or spa must have a permanent enclosure at least 60 inches high (measured on the outside) before it is filled. Gates must self-close and self-latch with the latch at least 60 inches above ground, and openings must not pass a 4-inch sphere.
Placer County Code Section 15.04.320 (Form 208 Pool Enclosure Requirements, citing CBC 3109 and HSC 115923)
The top of the enclosure shall be at least 60 inches above grade measured on the side of the enclosure that faces away from the swimming pool. Maximum vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure of 2 inches. Gaps or voids, if any, do not allow passage of a sphere equal to or greater than 4 inches in diameter. Any access gates through the enclosure open away from the swimmi...
Beyond the 60-inch enclosure, Placer County (per CBC 3109, PCC 15.04.320 and HSC 115923) requires at least one additional drowning-prevention safety feature, such as ASTM-compliant removable mesh fencing, an ASTM safety pool cover, exit alarms on house doors/windows, a self-latching house-door device, or a pool alarm.
Placer County's pool enclosure rules apply to above-ground pools the same as in-ground pools: the definition of 'swimming pool' in PCC 15.04.320 expressly includes above-ground structures holding water over 18 inches deep, so a building permit and the 60-inch enclosure plus a drowning-prevention feature are required.
In unincorporated Placer County, a spa or hot tub holding water over 18 inches deep is treated as a swimming pool under PCC 15.04.320 and CBC 3109. However, a self-contained spa with an ASTM F1346-91 locking safety cover is exempt from the fence enclosure requirement.
3 cities in Placer County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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