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

San Bernardino County Building & Safety Bulletin IB-0007 implements the drowning-prevention requirements of the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code Article 2.5, Sections 115920-115929) for residential pools, spas, and hot tubs. Where a portion of the home or structure serves as part of the pool enclosure with doors that have direct access to the pool, or where a movable fence or safety cover is used, the property must provide at least one additional approved drowning-prevention safety feature. Recognized features include: an exit alarm on the home's doors that give direct access to the pool or spa, which sounds an alarm or verbal warning; a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor on those doors; an in-water alarm independently certified to ASTM Standard F2208 that sounds upon accidental or unauthorized entry into the water; or another approved means of equal or greater protection verified by an approved testing lab to ASTM or ASME standards. The County adds that exit alarms must be listed and labeled to UL 2017, have a deactivation switch 54 inches or more above the door threshold, sound continuously for 30 seconds within 7 seconds of the door opening, produce at least 85 dBA, and include a manual deactivation switch for a single opening not to exceed 15 seconds.