A hot tub or spa holding water over 24 inches deep needs a Benton County building permit, but the 2021 ISPSC exempts a spa fitted with an ASTM F1346 safety cover from the 48-inch barrier requirement.
In unincorporated Benton County, a hot tub or spa is a regulated pool under the 2021 building code (WAC 51-51, Section R327) when it holds water over 24 inches deep, so a building permit applies. The 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code exempts a spa or hot tub fitted with a safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 from the barrier provisions — the key difference from an in-ground pool. Without a listed cover, the spa needs a compliant 48-inch barrier. The 240-volt circuit and NEC bonding are permitted separately through Washington State L&I. A deck carrying a filled spa must be verified for the added load.
A permanent spa over 24 inches deep installed without a Benton County building permit, or without either an ASTM F1346 cover or a 48-inch barrier, violates the state building code.
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