Kings County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Above-Ground Pools (2026)

In unincorporated Kings County, above-ground pools fall under the same zoning treatment as other private pools - a permitted incidental/accessory use in the agricultural (Table 4-1) and residential (Table 5-1) districts. Article 5, Table 5-1 sets the key placement rule: "No swimming pool or accessory mechanical equipment shall be located less than five (5) feet from a property line, or within a utility easement." That five-foot setback applies to above-ground pools and their pumps and filters just as it does to in-ground pools. Whether a building permit is needed depends on size: under the California Building Code, certain prefabricated above-ground pools accessory to a single-family residence that are less than 24 inches deep, hold no more than 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground are exempt from a permit, while larger above-ground pools require one from the Community Development Agency. Regardless of permit status, the County Development Code requires single-family pools built after January 1, 1998 to be enclosed or equipped with a safety feature per California Health & Safety Code Sections 115920-115927, so an above-ground pool deep enough to qualify must still meet the Pool Safety Act barrier/feature requirements. Confirm exact thresholds with the County before purchasing or installing a pool.