Imperial County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Hot Tub Rules (2026)

Title 9, Division 10's definition of swimming pool expressly lists hot tubs and spas alongside in-ground and above-ground pools, so a hot tub or spa over two feet deep falls under the same County rules as a pool. That means the five-foot enclosure and self-closing, self-latching gate requirements of Section 91003.01.F apply, as do the adopted California Residential Code 2019 Appendix V (Swimming Pool Safety Act) and California Electrical Code Article 680.26 bonding standards. The County, however, recognizes an approved safety pool cover meeting ASTM F1346 as an accepted alternative protective method, which is the practical compliance route for many spas and hot tubs. Placement follows Division 5, Section 90501.16: rear or side yard only, five-foot (or pool-depth) property-line setback, and a minimum five-foot separation between any building wall and the spa wall to keep a safe walking surface and avoid equipotential-bonding retrofits. Electrical work for a spa or hot tub must meet the County-adopted California Electrical Code bonding provisions and be inspected. Owners installing a self-contained, listed portable spa should confirm permit scope with the Planning & Development Services Building Division, since the County definition keys on water depth rather than on whether the unit is portable.