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

Any new swimming pool or spa installation in Riverside requires plan check and permits through the Building and Safety Division. The submittal typically includes a site plan showing setbacks (commonly five feet from property lines and from the main dwelling foundation, subject to the underlying zone), structural plans stamped by a licensed engineer for the pool shell, equipment-pad location, plumbing schematic (skimmer, main drain, circulation, backwash line), and an electrical plan for pool lighting, pump, and bonding grid. The California Building Code Appendix V (Swimming Pools) and Chapter 31B (Private Pools) set construction standards including minimum decking, non-skid surfaces, and the VGBA anti-entrapment drain cover requirement. The California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health and Safety Code sections 115920–115929) requires at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention safety features at final inspection: enclosed isolation fence with self-closing/self-latching gate, removable mesh fence with self-latching gate, approved safety pool cover, exit alarms on doors leading to the pool, self-closing/self-latching devices on doors, alarms on the pool itself, or other approved means. Point-of-sale inspection: a home seller must disclose pool safety features to the buyer. Above-ground pools deeper than 18 inches generally also require permits; small inflatable or temporary pools under that depth typically do not, but the safety-feature rules still apply. Spas and hot tubs follow the same process but may use a locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 as one of the two required features. Fees are based on valuation and typically total several hundred to a few thousand dollars for a standard backyard pool.