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

Under the Santa Barbara County Land Use & Development Code Section 35.42.020, spas and hot tubs are treated as accessory structures together with swimming pools and appurtenant equipment, and must not be located closer than five feet to any property line, nor in a required front or side setback (with the EX-1 zone's 15-foot reduction available). Whether a permanently installed spa or hot tub requires a building permit depends on plumbing and electrical connections under the adopted California Residential/Electrical Code; the County Building & Safety Division reviews spa installations. For drowning prevention, California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code 115922) governs spas as it does pools when a permit is issued: at least two of seven safety features are required, but a safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is one of the listed features, which is commonly how portable and built-in spas satisfy the law. Local design-review processes list hot tubs, spas, and swimming pools among exterior alterations that may be subject to architectural review in some areas. Owners should confirm both permit and barrier requirements with Building & Safety before installation.