Swimming pool rules in Danville, California
Pools and spas are allowed as accessory structures in Danville's single-family zones. The Town's handout requires a building permit for any accessory structure over 120 sq ft and electrical and plumbing permits at any size, which covers a typical pool; pools, spas and equipment under 6 feet tall must be at least 5 feet from side and rear lines and out of the front yard setback. The zoning text is a 2019 copy, so confirm with the Town.
| Permits | Building permit for accessory structures over 120 sq ft; electrical and plumbing permits at any size [1] |
| Side/rear setback for pools, spas and equipment | 5 feet [2] |
| Front setback | Same as the house [3] |
| Hot tub/spa max height | 6 ft; 4 ft within 10 ft of side or rear line [4] |
| Cabana/pool house max height | 15 ft; 12 ft within 10 ft of side/rear lines [6] |
These rules come from a November 2019 printout of Danville's single-family zoning code (Sec. 32-22), the only copy we could obtain; later amendments may have changed them, so confirm with the Planning Division before you build.
Pools are accessory structures
Danville's single-family zoning lists pools and spas among accessory structures, along with cabanas, sheds and gazebos [5]. That means they follow the accessory-structure setback rules in Sec. 32-22.9.
Permits
The Planning Division's accessory structures handout says a building permit is required for accessory structures over 120 sq ft, and electrical and plumbing permits are needed regardless of size [1]. Neither source mentions pools by name in the permit rules, but a pool with a pump, filter or heater will need those trade permits, and a typical in-ground pool is well over 120 sq ft, so it will need a building permit. Check with the Building Division for exact requirements.
Setbacks
Pools, spas and mechanical equipment (including pool pumps and filters) that are under 6 feet tall must be at least 5 feet from the side and rear property lines [2]. The front and secondary front yard setbacks that apply to the house also apply to accessory structures, so a pool can't go in the front yard setback [3]. A cabana or pool house is a structure for use with a pool or spa that may include a bathroom and partial kitchen without a stove or oven [7]; it follows the general accessory-structure rules, including a 15-foot height cap and 12 feet within 10 feet of side and rear lines [6].
Hot tubs and spas
The highest point of a hot tub or spa can be 6 feet, or 4 feet if it's within 10 feet of a side or rear property line [4].
Fencing and barriers
The zoning sources we reviewed don't set pool fence or barrier rules. Pool safety barriers and other drowning-prevention features come from state law and the building code (see the state rules), and the Building Division checks them at inspection. Fences used as pool barriers must still meet Danville's fence height limits.
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Next steps
- Confirm your pool location keeps 5 feet from side and rear property lines and stays out of the front yard setback.
- Apply to the Danville Building Division (925-314-3330) for building, electrical and plumbing permits with a site plan showing the pool, equipment and setbacks.
- Plan the required drowning-prevention safety features (barrier, cover or alarms) under state law; they're checked before final inspection.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit for a pool in Danville, California?
- Yes, typically. The Town's handout requires a building permit for accessory structures over 120 sq ft and electrical and plumbing permits at any size, which covers a typical pool with a pump, filter or heater. Check with the Building Division for exact requirements.
- How far does a pool have to be from the property line in Danville, California?
- Pools, spas and mechanical equipment under 6 feet tall must be at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines, and a pool can't go in the front yard setback. These rules come from a 2019 copy of the zoning code, so confirm with the Town.
- How tall can a hot tub be in Danville, California?
- The highest point of a hot tub or spa can be 6 feet, or 4 feet if it's within 10 feet of a side or rear property line.
- Does a pool need a fence in Danville, California?
- Danville's zoning sources don't set pool fence rules. Pool safety barriers and other drowning-prevention features come from state law and the building code, and the Building Division checks them at inspection. Pool barrier fences must still meet Danville's fence height limits.
California state rules for swimming pools
Pools need a city or county building permit, and local zoning sets setbacks. The state's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code §115920 et seq.) adds safety rules:
- Drowning prevention features: when a building permit is issued for a new pool or spa, or to remodel one, at a private single-family home, it must have at least two of seven safety features (§115922):
- an enclosure that isolates the pool from the house
- removable mesh fencing (ASTM F2286) with a self-closing, self-latching gate
- a safety pool cover (ASTM F1346-23)
- exit alarms on doors and windows that open directly to the pool
- self-closing, self-latching devices on those doors, released at least 54 inches up
- a pool alarm (ASTM F2208; child-worn alarms don't count)
- other equally protective, independently verified means
- Some pairs don't count, such as a safety cover plus a pool alarm. The building official inspects before final approval.
- Enclosure standards (§115923): at least 60 inches high, no more than 2 inches of clearance at the bottom, gaps that won't pass a 4-inch sphere, no handholds or footholds, and gates that open away from the pool with self-latches at least 60 inches up.
- What counts as a pool: any structure with water over 18 inches deep, including above-ground pools, hot tubs and spas (§115921). Spas with a locking ASTM F1346 cover, apartment complexes and public pools are exempt (§115925).
- Small pools: the 2025 Residential Code exempts prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep from a building permit.
What the ordinance says
- Accessory Structures handout, Permit Requirements, Accessory Structures handout (Planning Division), p. 1
A building permit is required for all accessory structures greater than 120 square feet in floor area. Electrical and plumbing permits are required regardless of the size of the structure.
- Sec. 32-22.9(b)(11), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 15
Other accessory structures including pools, spas, and mechanical equipment which are less than six (6) feet in height shall maintain a minimum five (5) foot setback from the side and rear property lines. Examples of mechanical equipment include HVAC units, swimming pool pumps and filters, ventilation, cable television distribution boxes, transformers, and other utility equipment.
- Sec. 32-22.9(a)(1), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 14
The primary front yard and secondary front yard setbacks requirements for the primary structure also apply to accessory structures.
- Sec. 32-22.10(a)(5), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 16
Hot tub, spa. The highest point of a hot tub or spa shall not exceed six (6) feet, or four (4) feet in height if within ten (10) feet of a side or rear property line.
- Sec. 32-22.2 (Accessory structure), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 1
Accessory structures include garages, car ports, greenhouses, gazebos, sheds, arbors, pergolas, cabanas, pools, spas, play structures, and similar structures.
- Sec. 32-22.10, Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 15
Except as specified in this section, accessory structures shall have a maximum height of fifteen (15) feet. Additionally, no part of any accessory structure shall be greater than twelve (12) feet in height within ten (10) feet of a side or rear property line.
- Sec. 32-22.2 (Cabana), Municipal Code Sec. 32-22 Single Family Residential Districts (printed 11/15/2019, with illustrations), p. 2
Cabana shall mean a structure, typically constructed for use in conjunction with the use of a swimming pool and/or a spa, that provides shade, may be used as a dressing room, may include bathroom facilities (i.e., toilet, sink, bathtub and/or shower facilities) and may include partial kitchen amenities (i.e., refrigerator, sink, dishwasher, but no stove or oven).