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

Perris treats spas and hot tubs as accessory pool features under Zoning Code Chapter 19.29 and its adopted California Building/Residential Codes. Perris Municipal Code 19.29.040(8) groups spas with pools: no spa in the required front yard, at least five feet from any fence or building wall, substructure at least five feet from any lot line, and 'All swimming pools and spas shall conform to all Building Code and Health and Safety Code requirements.' For safety, the City defers to California's Swimming Pool Safety Act through the Western Riverside County 'Barrier Agreement.' A key state exemption applies: a self-contained spa or hot tub equipped with a listed safety cover complying with ASTM F-1346-91 is exempt from all barrier requirements. That means a typical portable plug-in hot tub with a locking, rigid safety cover does not need a separate 60-inch fence, while an in-ground spa that shares water or decking with a pool is treated as part of the pool and must meet the full two-feature barrier standard. Permits follow the same Accela building-permit process as pools when the spa is hard-plumbed or built in; electrical work must be GFCI-protected per the California Electrical Code. Owners should confirm whether their specific spa qualifies for the safety-cover exemption with the Perris Building Department, (951) 943-5003.