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

Single-family residential pools in unincorporated Santa Clara County must comply with the California Swimming Pool Safety Act, codified at Health and Safety Code Sections 115920 through 115929, which the County enforces through its adopted California Building Code. Section 115922(a) requires that whenever a building permit is issued for the construction of a new pool or spa, or the remodeling of an existing pool or spa, the pool or spa must be equipped with at least two of seven drowning prevention safety features. The seven options are: (1) an enclosure that meets Section 115923, generally a 60-inch barrier with self-closing self-latching gate; (2) removable mesh fencing meeting ASTM F2286 with a key-lockable gate; (3) a manually or power-operated safety cover meeting ASTM F1346-23; (4) exit alarms on the home doors and windows providing pool access; (5) a self-closing, self-latching device with release mechanism placed at least 54 inches above the floor on doors providing pool access; (6) an alarm meeting ASTM F2208 that detects unauthorized entry into the water; or (7) other equivalent protection meeting standards from ASTM, ASME, or a nationally recognized standards organization. Section 115922(b) bars certain combinations (an exit alarm and self-closing device on the same door together cannot count as two; a safety cover combined with a water-intrusion alarm cannot count as two). Independent of state law, the County Zoning Ordinance Section 4.20.020(J) requires a pool, spa, and any pool filter, pump, or appurtenant machinery to be located at least five feet from any property line or right-of-way, measured to the interior pool wall, and notes that the building code fence enclosure rules may further limit pool placement where fence height is restricted to less than five feet. Public pools (including HOA, club, hotel, and apartment pools serving more than one family) are additionally regulated under County Title B Division B11 (Environmental Health) and inspected at least twice per year by Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health. The County applies these rules only in unincorporated areas; the 15 cities in Santa Clara County administer their own building permits but are still bound by the state Pool Safety Act.