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

Unlike many cities that exempt small spas, the City of Hawthorne expressly lists spas and hot tubs in its pool-enclosure rule. Zoning Code Section 17.20.160 requires any swimming pool, pond, spa, or hot tub having a depth greater than three feet to be enclosed by a structure, fence, or wall six feet in height, with each gate or door to the outside equipped with a self-closing device and a self-latching device located not less than four feet above the ground. A hot tub or spa with a water depth over three feet therefore triggers the full six-foot barrier requirement just like a pool; many portable spas have a water depth at or under three feet, so the precise water depth determines whether the enclosure obligation applies. As an accessory recreational feature, a spa must also comply with the 17.20.160 placement limits - it may not be located in a required front yard or closer than five feet to an exterior property line or enclosed building. When a permit is issued, the City's adopted building code and California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (HSC 115922-115928) apply; the Act allows an approved safety cover as one qualifying drowning-prevention feature, which is common for spas. Electrical permits are required for spa wiring through Building & Safety.