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

Siskiyou County applies the statewide Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code 115920-115929) to residential pools and spas in the unincorporated county, enforced through the building-permit and inspection process under the 2025 California Residential Code. The Act defines a swimming pool or spa as any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water more than 18 inches deep, including in-ground and above-ground pools, hot tubs, spas, and non-portable wading pools. For a new or remodeled pool at a single-family home, at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention safety features are required: an isolating enclosure; removable mesh fencing with a self-closing/self-latching gate; an approved safety cover; exit alarms on doors with direct pool access; self-closing/self-latching devices on those doors; an approved pool alarm; or another approved, independently verified protective means. Separately, HSC 115928 requires every new or remodeled pool to have anti-entrapment protection - at least two hydraulically balanced suction outlets per recirculation pump, fitted with anti-entrapment grates and separated by at least three feet, to prevent a child being trapped by suction. Before issuing final approval, the local building official must inspect the required safety features and confirm no violations exist. The County does not publish additional pool-operation rules beyond these state requirements for private residential pools.