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

Imperial County Title 9, Division 10 defines a swimming pool as any confined body of water over two (2) feet deep used for swimming, bathing or wading, expressly including in-ground, above-ground and on-ground pools, hot tubs, spas and fixed-in-place wading pools. Pool design must comply with the County-adopted California Residential Code 2019 Edition, Appendix V (Swimming Pool Safety Act) and the California Electrical Code Article 680.26 bonding rules, as well as Division 5 Section 90501.16 of the County ordinance. Building permits and inspections for foundation, steel, electrical bonding and final are obtained through the Planning & Development Services Department's Building Division in El Centro. Pool placement is set by Section 90501.16: pools may occupy rear or side yards but not the front yard. Private single-family residential pools are not permitted or inspected by Environmental Health. By contrast, the Imperial County Public Health Department's Recreational Health Program inspects and permits only public swimming pools, spa pools and special-purpose pools; plans for those must be submitted to Environmental Health & Consumer Protection for plan check before construction or remodeling.