Cal. Health & Safety Code §115921(a) expressly includes 'hot tubs, spas, portable spas' within the definition of 'swimming pool.' Chico enforces the Swimming Pool Safety Act and the California Building/Electrical Codes for spa installation. Permanently installed spas require a building and electrical permit through the Chico Building Division. A locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is the most common way to satisfy one of the two required SB 442 drowning prevention features.
Under HSC §115921(a), 'swimming pool' or 'pool' means 'any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 18 inches deep,' including 'hot tubs, spas, portable spas, and wading pools.' Permanently installed spas in Chico require a building permit and electrical permit (for 240V hookups, bonding, and GFCI protection per the California Electrical Code, Title 24 CCR Part 3). The SB 442 two-feature requirement (HSC §115922) applies; for spas, the typical compliant configuration is an ASTM F1346 locking safety cover plus one additional feature (door alarm, self-latching door, etc.). Portable spas that plug into a standard 120V outlet may not require a building permit but the SB 442 requirements still attach if the unit is over 18 inches deep. The Chico Municipal Code does not impose additional spa-specific rules; setbacks for the spa pad follow Title 19 accessory structure rules.
Installing a hard-wired spa without an electrical permit violates the California Electrical Code as adopted citywide. Failing to provide two SB 442 features blocks final inspection sign-off (HSC §115922(c)).
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