Unincorporated Santa Cruz County enforces SCCC Chapter 12.10 (Building Regulations), which adopts the California Building Standards Code (CBC, CRC) and incorporates the Swimming Pool Safety Act, California Health & Safety Code sections 115920-115929. Pools and spas with water deeper than 18 inches require a barrier at least 60 inches (5 feet) high measured on the side facing away from the pool, with self-closing and self-latching gates whose release mechanism is at least 60 inches above the ground. New or remodeled pools must include at least two of the seven state-approved drowning prevention features.
Santa Cruz County's Community Development & Infrastructure (CDI) Building Division administers SCCC 12.10.216, the County's Swimming Pool Enclosure Ordinance, in conjunction with the California Residential Code (CRC) Appendix V and California Health & Safety Code sections 115920-115929 (the Swimming Pool Safety Act). A swimming pool or spa is any structure containing water more than 18 inches deep. The required barrier must be at least 60 inches high above grade on the outside (away from the pool); openings must not allow passage of a 4-inch sphere; horizontal members less than 45 inches apart must be on the pool side, with vertical pickets no more than 1.75 inches apart. Chain-link fences must be a minimum 11 gauge with mesh openings of 2.25 inches or less. Access gates must open outward, away from the pool, and be self-closing and self-latching with the latch release at least 60 inches above the bottom of the gate, or, if lower, on the pool side at least 3 inches below the top of the gate with no openings greater than 0.5 inch within 18 inches of the latch. When a building permit is issued for a new pool/spa or remodel, SCCC 12.10.216 and HSC 115922 require at least two drowning prevention features from the state list, which include an isolation enclosure, ASTM F2286 removable mesh fencing, an approved safety pool cover, exit alarms on doors leading to the pool, self-closing/self-latching devices on those doors with a release at least 54 inches above the floor, ASTM F2208-certified pool alarms, or other approved equivalents. A building permit from CDI is required for the pool and the barrier, and the barrier is verified at final inspection.
A pool or spa cannot be filled or pass final inspection until a compliant barrier, gate hardware, and any required door alarms or covers are installed and operational. Building or remodeling a pool without a permit, or operating without the required two safety features under HSC 115922, can trigger stop-work orders, re-inspection fees, and code enforcement action by the Santa Cruz County CDI Building Division.
See how Santa Cruz County's fencing requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.