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

Because the County zoning code does not address pool safety, the unincorporated area is covered by the state Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health and Safety Code 115920 et seq.) and the California Building Standards Codes, both administered by the County Building Department. Health and Safety Code 115922 lists the seven drowning-prevention features, at least two of which must be installed on a new or remodeled single-family pool or spa. Several of these are safety operational measures rather than fences: exit alarms on doors providing direct access to the pool; self-closing, self-latching door hardware with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor; and pool alarms certified to ASTM F2208 that sound when someone enters the water. An approved ASTM F1346 safety cover is another option. Spas and hot tubs equipped with a listed locking safety cover are treated differently and may be exempt from the two-feature requirement. New pools and spas must also meet the building code's anti-entrapment suction-outlet provisions. These are statewide rules, so they apply equally to rural parcels and small unincorporated communities throughout Colusa County. The County does not layer additional local operational rules on top of the state requirements.