Swimming pools in Santa Monica: the local rules

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

What Santa Monica's code says

Santa Monica code What Santa Monica's code adds
Pool barrier	No opening larger than 4 inches in any direction. Applies: Applies to all pool enclosures, new and existing. § 8.12.150 · code text with no opening therein more than four inches in maximum dimensions. A masonry wall or solid fence at least 6 feet tall must screen the pool on that side. Applies: Pool or spa in a Residential District less than 30 feet from any parcel line. § 9.21.160 · code text where located less than 30 feet to any parcel line, shall be screened by a masonry wall or solid fence not less than 6 feet in height on the side facing such parcel line
Barrier height	At least five feet above adjacent grade Applies: New enclosures around pools, spas, hot tubs and ponds eighteen inches or more deep; enclosures permitted before July 1, 1999 may be four and one-half feet § 8.12.150 · code text Every person, firm or corporation owning land on which there is situated a swimming pool, spa, hot tub, pond or other body of water which contains water eighteen inches or more in depth at any point shall completely surround such body of water or property with a fence, wall or other structure not less than five feet above the adjacent grade at all places
Equipment and alarms	Filters and pumps not in front or side setbacks; all equipment enclosed so no other parcel can hear it. Applies: Applies to a pool or spa in a Residential District. § 9.21.160 · code text Swimming pool or spa filtration equipment and pumps shall not be located in the front or side setback. All equipment shall be mounted and enclosed so that its sound is not audible from any other parcel.
Gates	Latch at least 5 feet above the ground. The gate must self-close and be secured when no adults are present. Applies: Applies to a new enclosure. § 8.12.150 · code text Any gate in such fence shall have a latch at least five feet above the underlying ground and such gate shall be self-closing and secured when adults are not present. The latch must be at least four and one-half feet above the underlying ground; the gate must be self-closing and secured when adults are not present. Applies: existing enclosure constructed under valid permit issued prior to July 1, 1999 § 8.12.150 · code text Any gate in such fence shall have a latch at least four and one- half feet above the underlying ground and such gate shall be self-closing and secured when adults are not present.

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

Santa Monica's code: At least five feet above adjacent grade (New enclosures around pools, spas, hot tubs and ponds eighteen inches or more deep; enclosures permitted before July 1, 1999 may be four and one-half feet) (§ 8.12.150); Latch at least 5 feet above the ground. The gate must self-close and be secured when no adults are present. (Applies to a new enclosure.) (§ 8.12.150).

Swimming pools in Santa Monica

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