Sonoma County enforces the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code 115920-115929) and the California Building Standards Code for residential pool, spa, and hot tub barriers in unincorporated areas. Permit Sonoma issues building permits for new pools, spas, and remodels and verifies that the pool is isolated from the home with a 60-inch enclosure plus at least two of seven approved drowning prevention features. Plans must be prepared by a California-licensed civil or structural engineer and detail the proposed fencing.
Permit Sonoma's CNI-044 Swimming Pool Safety Regulations handout administers Article 2.5 of Division 104, Part 10, Chapter 5 of the California Health & Safety Code (the Swimming Pool Safety Act, sections 115920-115929) together with the California Residential Code (CRC) and California Building Code (CBC) as adopted by the State Building Standards Commission. Section 115923 requires the pool enclosure to be at least 60 inches high, with maximum vertical clearance from grade to the bottom of the enclosure of 2 inches, no openings that pass a 4-inch sphere, and an exterior surface free of handholds or footholds that would allow a child under five to climb it. Access gates must open away from the pool, be self-closing with a self-latching device, and the latch release must be no lower than 60 inches above grade. Under Section 115922, whenever a building permit is issued for a new pool/spa or for the remodel of an existing pool/spa at a private single-family home, the pool must be equipped with at least two of these seven drowning prevention features: (1) an isolating enclosure meeting Section 115923, (2) removable mesh fencing meeting ASTM F2286 with a self-closing/self-latching gate accommodating a key-lockable device, (3) an ASTM F1346 compliant manual or powered safety cover, (4) exit alarms on the home's doors providing direct pool access, (5) a self-closing/self-latching device on those doors with the release at least 54 inches above the floor, (6) a water-detection alarm meeting ASTM F2208, or (7) an alternative system providing equal or greater protection that has been independently verified by an approved testing laboratory. Plans submitted to Permit Sonoma must show compliance, include a fence detail or specifications of the chosen safety features, and be sealed by a California-licensed civil or structural engineer. Suction outlets must be anti-entrapment compliant under the Pool and Spa Safety Act, and remodels must upgrade existing suction outlets to current standards. Public and community pools are regulated separately under California Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 20 and inspected by Sonoma County Environmental Health.
A pool cannot pass final inspection, be filled, or be placed in service until the enclosure, gates, and selected drowning prevention features comply with HSC 115920-115929 and the CRC/CBC as enforced by Permit Sonoma. Building without a permit or failing to comply can result in stop-work orders, failed inspections, and code enforcement action under Sonoma County Code Chapter 1 and Chapter 7. Public/semi-public pools that fail California Code of Regulations Title 22 fencing standards may have their operating permit suspended by Sonoma County Environmental Health.
See how Sonoma'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.