Bellflower's pool-enclosure rule covers any artificial body of water designed for immersion two feet deep or more, which includes most spas and hot tubs. Under Municipal Code Chapter 15.20, such a spa must be enclosed by a five-foot barrier with self-latching gates. New spas also fall under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act, where an approved locking safety cover can count as a barrier feature.
Spas and hot tubs are captured by Bellflower's enclosure standard because Chapter 15.20 applies to any outside body of water created by artificial means and designed for swimming 'or immersion' purposes, any portion of which is two feet deep or more. A typical hot tub or spa exceeds that depth, so it must be enclosed by a fence, wall or other structure at least five feet high with no openings (other than doors or gates) larger than 50 square inches, and gates must be self-closing and self-latching with the latch at least four feet above grade. For new and remodeled spas at single-family homes, the statewide Swimming Pool Safety Act (California Health and Safety Code Section 115922) also applies, requiring at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention features. One of those approved features is an approved safety cover meeting the ASTM F1346 standard, which is the common compliance path for spas because a listed, lockable spa cover can serve as a barrier. A building permit from the city's Building & Safety Division is generally required to install a spa, and placement follows the SF zone setbacks in Chapter 17.16 (substructure at least five feet from side and rear property lines, and at least five feet from the exterior finish of the house). Because Bellflower is an incorporated city, the city's Building & Safety Division reviews and inspects spa installations rather than Los Angeles County.
A spa or hot tub two feet deep or more without the Chapter 15.20 enclosure (or, for a new installation, the state-required safety features such as a compliant locking cover) is a code violation. Placing the spa or its equipment closer than the five-foot SF-zone setbacks violates Chapter 17.16. Installing a spa without the required building permit is also a violation enforced by Building & Safety and Code Enforcement.
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