Swimming pools in Santa Ana: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Santa Ana Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Santa Ana's code says

Santa Ana code What Santa Ana's code adds
Pool barrier	The fence or wall may have no openings or projections that could be used to climb it. Applies: Applies to fences around a pool, pond or other body of water. § 8-20 · code text Such fence or wall shall be constructed and maintained with no openings nor projections, which could serve as a means to scale the fence or wall. Openings, holes or gaps may not let a 4-inch sphere pass through. Applies: Applies to the enclosure, doors and gates around a pool, pond or other body of water. § 8-20 · code text Openings, holes, or gaps in the enclosure, doors, and/or gates shall not allow the passage of a four-inch diameter sphere Horizontal rails reachable from outside must be at least 48 inches apart. Applies: Applies to fences around a pool, pond or other body of water. § 8-20 · code text horizontal members, accessible from the exterior, shall be no closer than forty-eight (48) inches. The fence must isolate the pool, stand within 50 feet of it, and have gates in view of it. Applies: Applies to occupancies classified R1, R2, R3, R3.1 and R4. § 8-20 · code text The fence or walls shall serve to isolate the pool from other activities or structures and shall be located within fifty (50) feet of the pool.
Barrier height	The fence or wall must be at least 5 feet above the ground outside it. Applies: Applies to pools, ponds or other bodies of water 18 inches or more deep at any point. § 8-20 · code text every swimming pool, pond or other body of water eighteen (18) inches or more in depth at any point shall be surrounded by a fence or wall not less than five (5) feet above the adjacent exterior grade and/or five (5) feet above the finished elevation.
Gates	Gates self-close and self-latch; release 5 feet up or on the pool side; openings at most 48 inches wide. Applies: Applies to gates and doors in the fence around a pool, pond or other body of water. § 8-20 · code text Openings for gates or doors through such enclosure shall not exceed forty-eight (48) inches in width. Each gate or door shall be self-closing and self-latching, with the release five (5) feet above exterior grade or so located on the water side as to prevent release from the exterior.
Permit	Yes; a permit is issued for any pool, spa or hot tub once application and approval requirements are met. Applies: Applies to installing any swimming pool, spa or hot tub system. § 8-2609 · code text If the administrative authority determines that the plans, specifications, drawings, descriptions, or information furnished by the applicant are in compliance with this code, he shall issue the permit applied for upon payment of the required fee as hereinafter fixed.

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What are the pool fence and setback rules in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana's code: The fence or wall must be at least 5 feet above the ground outside it. (Applies to pools, ponds or other bodies of water 18 inches or more deep at any point.) (§ 8-20); Gates self-close and self-latch; release 5 feet up or on the pool side; openings at most 48 inches wide. (Applies to gates and doors in the fence around a pool, pond or other body of water.) (§ 8-20).

Swimming pools in Santa Ana

What Santa Ana's code says

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