St. Petersburg, FL Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- Spas with ASTM F1346 covers satisfy barrier requirement
- Permit
- Electrical permit required for 240V circuit and bonding
- Authority
- GFCI protection mandated by Florida Building Code
- Setback
- Setbacks from property lines apply
- Authority
- Treated as pools under Florida Statute 515.25
Summary
Hot tubs and spas in St. Petersburg are treated as pools under Florida law and require building permits, electrical inspections, and either an approved safety cover or compliant barrier when installed in single-family yards.
(8) “Portable spa” means a nonpermanent structure intended for recreational bathing, in which all controls and water-heating and water-circulating equipment are an integral part of the product and which is cord-connected and not permanently electrically wired.
515.37 Exemptions. — This chapter does not apply to: (1) Any system of sumps, irrigation canals, or irrigation flood control or drainage works constructed or operated for the purpose of storing, delivering, distributing, or conveying water.
(2) Stock ponds, storage tanks, livestock operations, livestock watering troughs, or other structures used in normal agricultural practices.
(3) Public swimming pools.
(4) Any political subdivision that has adopted or adopts a residential pool safety ordinance, provided the ordinance is equal to or more stringent than the provisions of this chapter.
(5) Any portable spa with a safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346-91 (Standard Performance Specification for Safety Covers and Labeling Requirements for All Covers for Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs).
(6) Small, temporary pools without motors, which are commonly referred to or known as “kiddie pools.”
Full Breakdown
Florida Statute 515.25 defines a swimming pool to include hot tubs and spas, so St. Petersburg applies the same safety feature requirements. A spa equipped with a lockable safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346 satisfies the perimeter barrier requirement and is the most common compliance path. Permanent and portable spas typically still require an electrical permit because of the dedicated 240V circuit, GFCI breaker, and equipotential bonding required under the Florida Building Code. Setback rules under Chapter 16 apply where the spa is on a deck or pad. Where a spa shares a deck with a swimming pool, the perimeter barrier surrounding the pool must also surround or exclude the spa.
Violations & Fines
Operating or installing a spa without required electrical permits or safety covers can result in permit fees, code enforcement fines, and unsafe-equipment shutdown notices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my plug-in 110V hot tub need a permit in St. Petersburg?
Can I leave my hot tub uncovered if I have a fenced yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Petersburg
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Petersburg to another location·View the Florida swimming pools & spas overview
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