Santa Clara County hot tubs over 18 inches deep need a building permit and must use VGB Act anti-entrapment drains. A locking ASTM F1346 safety cover satisfies most barrier requirements.
Santa Clara County treats spas and hot tubs similarly to swimming pools for permitting and safety. Any spa or hot tub holding water deeper than 18 inches requires a building permit covering electrical (240V hard-wired units, GFCI, bonding), plumbing, and structural support. Federal law under the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires anti-entrapment drain covers meeting ANSI/APSP-16 (or ASME A112.19.8) on all new and replacement installations. Under California Health and Safety Code 115922, a locking safety cover complying with ASTM F1346 is one of the approved drowning prevention features and often satisfies barrier requirements without a perimeter fence. Spas must not obstruct setbacks, easements, or drainage. Electrical work must be performed by a licensed contractor and inspected. Portable plug-in spas under 120V are still subject to electrical code but may not require a structural permit.
Installing a spa without a permit can result in orders to remove, retrofit, or obtain retroactive permits with additional fees. Non-compliant drain covers can trigger federal enforcement and civil liability in the event of injury.
San Jose, CA
San Jose Municipal Code Title 7 (Animal Care and Control) requires dogs in public places, city parks, and trails to be on a leash no longer than six feet, re...
San Jose, CA
San Jose imposes no general restriction on year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private residential property. The sign code (SJMC Ch...
San Jose, CA
San Jose has no city ordinance specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, height, and motor noise are not restricted by the munic...
San Jose, CA
San Jose has no ordinance limiting the duration, brightness, or hours of residential holiday lighting. The general nuisance provisions in SJMC Title 6 and th...
San Jose, CA
A built-in outdoor kitchen in San Jose typically requires multiple permits: a building permit for any structural roof or counter exceeding the patio cover ex...
San Jose, CA
San Jose does not have a dedicated ordinance for backyard smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens. Use is governed by the multifamily balcony restriction...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle hot tub rules.
See how San Jose's hot tub rules rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.