Tehama County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Tehama County, CA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Exempt threshold
- 5,000 gallons or less
- Wall condition
- Entirely above adjacent grade
- Covers
- Pools, spas, hot tubs
- Governing section
- § 15.02.310(B)(1), Item 11
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Tehama County only
Summary
In unincorporated Tehama County, California, a prefabricated above-ground pool, spa, or hot tub skips the building permit only if its walls sit entirely above grade and it holds 5,000 gallons or less.
Item 11. Prefabricated swimming pools, spas and hot tubs accessory to Group R, Division 3, or individual units of a Group R, Division 1 occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed five thousand gallons.
Item 12. Playground equipment accessory to Group R, Division 3 occupancies.
Item 13. Tree houses not exceeding one hundred twenty square feet.
Item 14. Detached trellises or arbors accessory to Group R, Division 3 occupancies, provided the projected roof area does not exceed two hundred square feet.
Item 15. Reroofing limited to replacement of the roof covering, provided the area of reroofing does not exceed twenty-five percent of the total roof area in a one year period.
Item 16. An agricultural building, as defined in Section 202 of the UBC, provided that:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
Tehama County Code § 15.02.310(B)(1), Item 11 exempts prefabricated swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs accessory to a single-family home from the county's building-permit requirement, but only when the pool walls sit entirely above the adjacent grade and the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons. A larger above-ground pool, or one with walls built into the ground, falls back under the general permit rule at § 15.02.310(A)(1) and needs a building permit like any other structure. This exemption applies only in the unincorporated area of Tehama County. Red Bluff, Corning, and the City of Tehama set their own rules.
Violations & Fines
Installing an above-ground pool over 5,000 gallons, or with walls partly below grade, without first obtaining a building permit exposes the owner to a recorded notice of noncompliance and misdemeanor prosecution under Chapter 10.14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install an above-ground pool without a permit in Tehama County?
What if my above-ground pool holds more than 5,000 gallons?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tehama County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tehama County to another location·View the California swimming pools & spas overview
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