Redondo Beach, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Redondo Beach, CA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Permit-exempt pool depth
- Under 18 inches deep
- Permit-exempt pool capacity
- 5,000 gallons or less
- Exempt pool placement
- Entirely above ground
- Adopted pool code
- Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code
- Late-start penalty
- Double the permit fee
Summary
Redondo Beach requires a building permit for essentially every residential pool; the only exemption under RBMC Section 9-1.02 is a prefabricated above-ground pool under 18 inches deep and 5,000 gallons, leaving in-ground and deeper pools squarely permit-required.
[A] 105.2 Work Exempt from Permit, Items 1, 2, 9, of the California Building Code are hereby amended to read as follows: ... 9. ... Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3, Occupancy that are less than 18 inches (457.5 mm) deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,927 L) and are installed entirely above ground.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4889554; v14 updated 2026-05-12).
Full Breakdown
01 to govern the erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, addition to, use, or maintenance of pool and spa equipment citywide. 02 makes clear that, absent a listed exemption, no structure regulated by the code may be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, or converted without a permit first obtained from the Building Official. The pool-specific exemption is narrow: Item 9 of the Work Exempt from Permit list covers only prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 (single-family residential) occupancy that are less than 18 inches deep, hold no more than 5,000 gallons, and sit entirely above ground.
03's Master Fee Schedule. 02, the Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code's own permit fee table has been deleted and replaced with a cross-reference back to the same Master Fee Schedule, plan review fees, and a doubled fee for work commencing before the permit is issued. 04 rather than setting a separate pool-specific fine.
Violations & Fines
Building a permit-required residential pool, spa, or hot tub without first obtaining the permit, or commencing work before the permit issues, exposes the owner or contractor to double the total permit fees plus enforcement costs under RBMC Section 9-1.03's work-commencing-before-permit provision, on top of the general Building Code penalty of up to $1,000 and six months in County Jail under Section 9-1.04.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every backyard pool in Redondo Beach need a building permit?
What code governs pool construction standards in Redondo Beach?
What happens if I build a pool before getting the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redondo Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Redondo Beach to another location·View the California swimming pools & spas overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pool Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle pool permits.