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

Under the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) as adopted by Riverside County, a building permit is required for any in-ground or above-ground pool or spa with a water depth greater than 18 inches. Applications are filed with Riverside County Building and Safety and typically require a site plan showing the pool location, setbacks to property lines and structures, pool plans (structural, plumbing, electrical, and gas if applicable), equipment pad location, drainage plan, and compliance documentation for pool enclosure and suction entrapment avoidance. Plan check reviews verify setbacks under Ord. 348 (typically 5 feet from side/rear property lines to the water's edge), structural engineering for gunite/shotcrete pools, bonding and GFCI protection under Article 680 of the CEC, and anti-entrapment compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. Required inspections during construction include pre-gunite (steel), electrical bond, plumbing pressure test, deck pre-pour, gas test, and final. Pool use is not permitted until the final inspection and enclosure approval are complete. Permit fees are based on valuation and typically range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars. Work without a permit subjects owners to investigation fees (double the permit fee) and potential removal orders.