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

The Santa Barbara County Land Use & Development Code (Chapter 35) treats swimming pools, spas, and appurtenant equipment as accessory structures. Under Section 35.42.020, swimming pools, spas, and appurtenant equipment shall not be located closer than five feet to any property line and shall not be placed in a required front or side setback area; in the EX-1 zone a 15-foot setback reduction is allowed specifically for locating a pool, spa, and equipment. These zoning setbacks apply to above-ground as well as in-ground pools. Whether a particular above-ground pool needs a building permit depends on its size, depth, and capacity under the California Residential Code edition adopted by the County; larger above-ground pools and any electrical pump/heater connections are generally permit-triggering, and the County Building & Safety Division should be consulted before installation. When a building permit is issued, the drowning-prevention safety-feature requirements of California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code 115922-115923) apply equally to above-ground pools, so the pool wall, ladder, or surrounding barrier must satisfy the 60-inch barrier and self-latching standards or another approved combination of features.