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

Citing California Health and Safety Code Section 115922, the City of Santa Barbara's pool handout requires that when a building permit is issued to construct a new pool or spa, or to remodel an existing one at a private single-family home, the pool or spa be equipped with at least two of the following seven drowning-prevention safety features: (1) an enclosure meeting Section 115923 that isolates the pool from the home; (2) removable mesh fencing meeting ASTM F2286 with a self-closing, self-latching, key-lockable gate; (3) an approved safety pool cover as defined in Section 115921(d); (4) exit alarms on the home's doors that provide direct access to the pool or spa; (5) a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor on the home's doors providing direct pool access; (6) an in-water alarm independently certified to ASTM F2208 (surface motion, pressure, sonar, laser, or infrared types - a wearable child alarm does not qualify); or (7) other protection independently verified by an approved testing laboratory as equal or greater. This is the California Pool Safety Act standard, which the City enforces through its building-permit process rather than a separate local invention. The City does not appear to add stricter local drowning-prevention rules beyond the state two-of-seven requirement.