San Luis Obispo County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

County handout BLD-1053 (07/09/2024) sets the submittal requirements for residential pool and spa construction permits under California Building Code Section 3109 (adopted via County Code Title 19 / Title 15 Chapter 15.04). Applications must include: a construction permit application form, vicinity map, site/plot plan, pool plan, electrical/mechanical/plumbing drawings, site-specific structural plans, and supporting documentation. Site plans must show setbacks, all existing structures with permit numbers, septic tank/leach field and expansion area, location of all pool equipment and drowning-prevention barriers (with gate swing and latch location), slip-resistant decking, and site drainage. Pool plans must show two means of entry/exit for pools over 5 feet deep (three means if over 30 feet wide), and any door or window with glass within 5 feet of the pool edge must be tempered. Structural plans must be engineer-reviewed and project-specific. A current soils report is required for sites next to a bluff or coastline, in a flood hazard area, or within a geologic study area land-use designation. Plans must specify which two of the HSC 115922(b) drowning-prevention features are being used. Electronic submittal requires one file with all plan sheets; paper submittal requires two 11”x17” copies minimum.