Arizona Statewide Spa and Hot Tub Cover Requirement

A.R.S. Section 36-1681 specifies that a contained body of water includes hot tubs and spas if deeper than 18 inches, but the law allows owners to install a safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346 standards as an alternative to a five-foot perimeter barrier. The cover must be capable of supporting a designated load and must be in place when the spa is not in use. These rules apply uniformly across counties with populations over 250,000 and cannot be relaxed by local ordinance.

Failure to maintain compliant barriers or covers can result in civil fines and significant liability if a child or other person is injured.