California / Contra Costa County
Pool Permit in Contra Costa County, California
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before starting any in-ground pool or spa installation, any above-ground pool 24 inches deep or deeper, any pool holding more than 5,000 gallons, and before remodeling an existing pool or spa.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
The county's Pool and Spa Installation handout states that "A building permit is required for all pool and spa installations and shall be obtained prior to start of installation." The only published carve-out is for prefabricated above-ground pools accessory to a one or two family dwelling that are less than 24 inches deep and hold no more than 5,000 gallons. Whenever a building permit is issued for a new pool or spa or the remodel of an existing one at a private single-family home, Health and Safety Code 115922 requires the pool to be equipped with at least two of seven listed drowning prevention safety features. The Planning Division separately requires in-ground pools and spas to sit at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines measured to the water's edge, and above-ground pools may face greater setbacks and administrative review.
Typical threshold: depth of a prefabricated pool accessory to a one or two family dwelling that is installed entirely above ground and holds no more than 5,000 gallons.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
Before starting any in-ground pool or spa installation, any above-ground pool 24 inches deep or deeper, any pool holding more than 5,000 gallons, and before remodeling an existing pool or spa.
What a pool permit costs in Contra Costa County
How Contra Costa County compares in California
Across the California jurisdictions we have verified, the same threshold runs from 18 to 24, so a project that is exempt here may still need a permit one county over.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | It depends | Depth of a prefabricated pool at which the building permit exemption stops; the exemption also requires the pool to hold no more than 5,000 gallons and to be installed entirely above ground |
| Contra Costa Countythis page | It depends | depth of a prefabricated pool accessory to a one or two family dwelling that is installed entirely above ground and holds no more than 5,000 gallons |
| Fresno County | It depends | Prefabricated pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy are exempt from a building permit only when they are less than 24 inches deep, hold not more than 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground |
| Los Angeles | Permit required | Not specified |
| Los Angeles County | It depends | depth of a prefabricated pool or other body of water accessory to a one- or two-family (Group R-3) home; the same exemption also reaches pools that do not exceed 5,000 gallons and are installed entirely above adjacent grade |
| Sacramento County | It depends | depth of water the structure holds; the permit exemption is limited to prefabricated pools |
| San Diego County | It depends | The only exempt pool is a prefabricated pool accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling that is less than 18 inches deep, holds no more than 5,000 gallons, and sits entirely above ground; everything else needs a permit. |
Closest pool permit thresholds outside California
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Contra Costa County's 24 inches of water depth.
- Arlington, Texas, depth of a prefabricated inflatable swimming pool
- Buffalo, New York, pool designed for that water depth or more, or installed other than entirely above ground, at a one- or two-family dwelling or townhouse
- Cook County, Illinois, prefabricated above-ground pools accessory to detached single-family dwellings
- El Paso, Texas, Pools and ponds over 24 inches of depth require a permit, as do above ground pools containing 5,000 gallons of water or more.
How to apply in Contra Costa County
A residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect.
What most pool permit applications include:
- Pool and spa design and construction fall under the residential code chapter that folds in the swimming pool and spa code, and permit review checks plans against that chapter (IRC R326).
- The site plan must show pool equipment such as pumps, filters, and heaters set back at least 36 inches from the outside of the required barrier (ISPSC 305.2.9).
- For an in-ground pool, engineered structural plans covering the shell and reinforcing steel, with the responsible structural engineer's license information, are a standard part of the submittal (per official pool submittal checklists).
- A barrier plan identifying the fence, pool structure, or dwelling wall that will enclose the pool must be submitted and must comply with the code's barrier chapter (ISPSC 305).
- Electrical plans must show the pool's equipotential bonding design, since the shell, perimeter surfaces, and metal fittings within 5 feet of the water must all tie into a common bonding grid (NEC 680.26).
- The electrical plan must also show a disconnecting means for the pool equipment that is readily accessible and within sight of the equipment (NEC 680.13).
General submittal guidance from 2021 IRC R326 (adopting the ISPSC), ISPSC 2021 Section 305, and NEC 2020 Article 680. Source. Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division sets the exact checklist for Contra Costa County.
Where to apply in Contra Costa County:
Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division
- Application and Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553
- Phone: 925-655-2700
- Email: permits@dcd.cccounty.us
Inspections and closing out your permit
Pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.
- Before gunite or shotcrete is sprayed, the inspector checks the rebar against the engineered plans and confirms the equipotential bonding wire is stubbed out and tied into the steel, since it will be buried in concrete afterward (NEC 680.26).
- A bonding inspection separately confirms coping, decking, ladders, handrail cups, and any other metal within 5 feet of the water are tied to the bonding grid, and it must pass before coping is installed (NEC 680.26).
- A temporary barrier at least 4 feet high must enclose the site from the moment excavation starts until the permanent barrier is finished, and inspectors check for it throughout construction (ISPSC 305.1.1).
- A pre-plaster inspection confirms the circulation equipment's electrical work is installed and all bonding is complete before the pool's interior finish goes on (NEC 680.26).
- At final inspection the permanent barrier is checked against the code's requirements and the equipment and cover-mechanism bonding must be complete before the pool can be filled and used (ISPSC 305, NEC 680.26).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Contra Costa County permit portal or by phone at 925-655-2700.
Inspection sequence from NEC 2020 Article 680.26 (equipotential bonding) and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Pool Permit checklist for Contra Costa County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: depth of a prefabricated pool accessory to a one or two family dwelling that is installed entirely above ground and holds no more than 5,000 gallons. Usually needed: Before starting any in-ground pool or spa installation, any above-ground pool 24 inches deep or deeper, any pool holding more than 5,000 gallons, and before remodeling an existing pool or spa.
- Budget the fee. The Building Valuation Data Supplement sets a "Swimming pool, lump sum of: $39,514.98" valuation, and the permit fee is computed from that valuation using the S-001 plan review and S-002 building permit tables, plus separate electrical and plumbing inspection fees with a $75.00 minimum each. Fee schedule adopted May 24, 2022, effective August 10, 2022. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect. Start at the Contra Costa County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division. Phone: 925-655-2700. Address: Application and Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553.
- Plan for inspections. Pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a pool permit in Contra Costa County?
- The county's Pool and Spa Installation handout states that "A building permit is required for all pool and spa installations and shall be obtained prior to start of installation." The only published carve-out is for prefabricated above-ground pools accessory to a one or two family dwelling that are less than 24 inches deep and hold no more than 5,000 gallons. Whenever a building permit is issued for a new pool or spa or the remodel of an existing one at a private single-family home, Health and Safety Code 115922 requires the pool to be equipped with at least two of seven listed drowning prevention safety features. The Planning Division separately requires in-ground pools and spas to sit at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines measured to the water's edge, and above-ground pools may face greater setbacks and administrative review. Depth of a prefabricated pool accessory to a one or two family dwelling that is installed entirely above ground and holds no more than 5,000 gallons. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a pool permit cost in Contra Costa County?
- The Building Valuation Data Supplement sets a "Swimming pool, lump sum of: $39,514.98" valuation, and the permit fee is computed from that valuation using the S-001 plan review and S-002 building permit tables, plus separate electrical and plumbing inspection fees with a $75.00 minimum each. Fee schedule adopted May 24, 2022, effective August 10, 2022. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a pool permit in Contra Costa County?
- You can apply through the Contra Costa County permit portal or contact the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in Contra Costa County?
- Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner-builder from contractor licensing when the owner personally performs the work, or uses only wage employees, on their own property and does not intend the improvements for sale. A homeowner may also directly hire licensed trade contractors for up to four single-family residences a year, or improve their own principal residence without a general contractor's license, as long as they have actually lived there for the 12 months before the work is finished. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a building permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a $500 civil penalty. Confirm how Contra Costa County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Contra Costa County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | area of a deck that is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a code-required exit door | No deck-specific flat fee is published. |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 C.6, "Electrical Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | height of a fence, with concrete and masonry walls treated as walls rather than fences | Land Development Fee Schedule item 13, "Fences Greater than 7ft": Building Permit /... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 D.6, "Mechanical Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | roof area of a trellis, arbor, or pergola accessory to a residence, treated by the county as a one-story detached accessory structure | The Building Valuation Data Supplement values a "Patio cover (includes pre-fab types... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule item 14, "Re-Roofs - Residential": Building Permit /... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure | No shed-specific flat fee is published. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule item 7, "Residential solar energy systems - roof mount and... |
Pool Permit in other California localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Contra Costa County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Pool Permit requirements across California localities
Permit office
Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division
925-655-2700Permit portal