Mono County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Safety Rules (2026)

For private residential pools in the unincorporated county, the governing safety standard is the state Swimming Pool Safety Act applied through the building permit, because Mono County has no separate pool-safety chapter. Under Health & Safety Code 115922, a new or remodeled pool must include at least one approved drowning-prevention feature — for example a 60-inch isolating enclosure, removable mesh fencing with a self-closing/self-latching lockable gate, an ASTM F1346-compliant safety cover, audible door exit alarms, self-closing self-latching doors with a raised release, or an ASTM F2208 pool alarm. Section 115928 requires every new or remodeled pool to have at least two hydraulically balanced suction outlets per pump, fitted with anti-entrapment grates and separated by at least three feet, to prevent suction entrapment. For PUBLIC pools and spas, Mono County Environmental Health requires a valid health permit and conducts regular inspections covering clean water, proper chemical levels, well-maintained equipment, and surroundings. The County also publishes 'Required Signs at Pools,' 'Required Signs at Spa Pools,' and a 'Pool/Spa Daily Maintenance & Operations Record' that public operators must follow. Private homeowners are encouraged to maintain barriers and alarms even where only one feature is legally required.