Antioch, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

The City of Antioch Building Division states: 'Effective January 1, 2026, the City will enforce the California 2025 Building Codes,' which includes Appendix AX (Swimming Pool Safety Act) of the California Residential Code. The state Swimming Pool Safety Act, codified at California Health and Safety Code sections 115920-115929, applies in Antioch and defines 'swimming pool' to include 'any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 18 inches deep,' including hot tubs, spas, portable spas, and nonportable wading pools (HSC section 115921). When a building permit is issued for a new private single-family residential pool or for the remodeling of an existing pool, HSC section 115922 requires the pool to be equipped with at least two of seven drowning prevention safety features, the most common being an enclosure that isolates the pool from the home, removable mesh fencing meeting ASTM F2286 with a self-closing/self-latching gate, an ASTM F1346-23 safety pool cover, exit alarms on doors with direct pool access, self-closing/self-latching devices on doors with the release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor, or pool alarms meeting ASTM F2208. HSC section 115923 sets the enclosure standard at a minimum height of 60 inches, a maximum 2-inch ground clearance, and gates that 'are self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground.' Antioch is in Contra Costa County and the city's adopted building code defers to these state minimums, with no known local amendment lowering the standard.