Spas and hot tubs are treated as pools: those more than 24 inches deep need a Polk County permit. A spa with a safety cover meeting ASTM standards satisfies the barrier requirement under Florida Statutes Chapter 515.
Under the Florida Building Code and FS Chapter 515, a spa or hot tub deeper than 24 inches requires a Polk County building permit and inspection. A spa is exempt from the perimeter-barrier requirement when equipped with an approved safety cover, defined in FS 515.25 as a manually or power-operated cover meeting ASTM F1346-91 performance standards. Electrical work must be permitted, bonded, and GFCI-protected. If the hot tub is part of a larger pool area, the overall pool barrier and safety-feature rules still apply to the whole enclosure.
An unpermitted spa or one lacking an approved cover or barrier can draw code-enforcement citations and fees; the same second-degree misdemeanor exposure under FS 515.27 applies to residential spas.
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