Swimming pool permit rules in San Diego County, CA — also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations — set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Building a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub over 18 inches deep in unincorporated San Diego County requires a building permit from County Planning & Development Services. The required enclosure, safety feature, and entrapment-avoidance measures must be installed, inspected, and approved before the pool is plastered or filled.
In the unincorporated areas of San Diego County, the County Planning & Development Services (PDS) Building Division issues construction permits for swimming pools. A 'swimming pool' is any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing holding water more than 18 inches deep, including in-ground, above-ground, and on-ground pools and fixed-in-place wading pools. Spas and hot tubs must also comply, except self-contained units with a listed locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346-91. Per the County's PDS 379 handout, the County Building Code requires a new pool to be separated from neighboring properties by an enclosure plus at least one additional drowning-prevention safety feature, and to meet entrapment-avoidance requirements for suction outlets. Pool barriers must also satisfy setback requirements. Critically, all elements of the enclosure, safety features, and entrapment-avoidance measures must be installed, inspected, and approved before the pool is plastered or filled with water (verified at the pre-plaster inspection). Building permits are obtained from PDS at 5510 Overland Ave., San Diego. These requirements apply specifically to the unincorporated County; incorporated cities (City of San Diego, Chula Vista, Escondido, etc.) issue their own pool permits under their own codes.
Constructing or filling a pool without an approved permit and inspection can result in stop-work orders, code-enforcement action, and required corrective work. Pools must pass the pre-plaster inspection before plastering or filling; uninspected barriers and safety features must be brought into compliance.
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