Colusa County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

The Colusa County Zoning Code (Articles 44-2 and 44-3) contains no chapter specific to swimming pools, so residents in the unincorporated county rely on the County Building Department and the state-adopted California Building Standards Codes. The County's Building Permits page states that plans must "show in detail that the project conforms to the provisions of the Building Code and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations," which is the basis for requiring a building permit before a pool or spa is built. A new in-ground or above-ground pool, and the associated electrical, plumbing, and barrier work, is construction that triggers this review. Because the County enforces the California Residential Code and California Building Code rather than a custom local pool code, the technical standards a pool must meet come from those statewide codes and from the Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health and Safety Code 115920 et seq.). Applications are processed by the Building Department at 1213 Market Street, Colusa. The Environmental Health Division becomes involved where a pool affects on-site septic systems or water supply. Property owners should confirm the current code edition and submittal checklist with the Building Department before applying, since the County adopts new code cycles by reference.