Swimming pool rules in Morro Bay, California
Pools and spas are allowed in Morro Bay's residential zones. In RS and RL districts the water must be at least 5 feet from interior side and rear lot lines, and set back the required building setback plus 5 more feet from front and corner-side lot lines. Barrier rules come from state law, not the city code we reviewed.
| What the setback rule covers | Pools, spas, and any water over 18 inches deep, plus related equipment [1] |
| Front/corner side setback (RS, RL) | Required building setback plus 5 ft [2] |
| Interior side and rear setback (RS, RL) | 5 ft [2] |
| Other districts | Required building setbacks [2] |
| Measured to | Outside wall of the water-containing portion [1] |
Setbacks
Morro Bay's zoning code (Sec. 17.23.160) applies to swimming pools, spas and any body of water deeper than 18 inches, along with their related equipment [1]. The setback is measured to the outside wall of the water-containing part of the pool or spa, not to the deck or coping beyond it [1].
In the RS (single-unit) and RL (low density) districts, where most single-family homes are:
- Front and corner side: the district's required building setback plus 5 feet [2]. For example, if your front setback is 20 feet, the pool must be at least 25 feet back.
- Interior side and rear: 5 feet [2].
In all other districts (including RM and RH), pools and spas need only meet the normal building setbacks [2].
Hot tubs and above-ground pools
The same rule covers spas and hot tubs, and any above-ground pool deeper than 18 inches [1]. Shallower wading pools aren't covered by the setback table.
Coastal development permit
Swimming pools for an existing single-family home are generally exempt from a coastal development permit [3]. The exemption doesn't apply on a beach, in a wetland or sensitive habitat, in an area the LCP designates highly scenic, or within 50 feet of a coastal bluff edge.
Barriers and building permits
The city code sections we reviewed don't set pool fence or barrier standards or say which building permit is needed. California's Swimming Pool Safety Act sets the drowning-prevention requirements (summarized separately on this page). Pool barrier fences in side and rear yards must still meet the city's fence height limits, generally 6 feet 6 inches outside front and corner side setbacks [4].
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Next steps
- Confirm your zoning district and required building setbacks with the Community Development Department (955 Shasta Avenue, 805-772-6267), then add 5 ft on the front/corner side if you're in RS or RL.
- Lay out the pool or spa so the water's outside wall is at least 5 ft from interior side and rear lot lines, and place pumps and heaters to meet the same setbacks.
- Apply to the Building Division for a building permit and plan for the state-required drowning-prevention features (barrier, cover or alarms).
- If you're near a beach, bluff, wetland or scenic area, ask Planning whether you need a coastal development permit.
Common questions
- What is the pool setback in Morro Bay, California?
- In RS and RL districts, the water must be at least 5 feet from interior side and rear lot lines, and set back the required building setback plus 5 more feet from front and corner-side lot lines. Other districts need only the normal building setbacks.
- Do hot tubs have to meet pool setbacks in Morro Bay, California?
- Yes. The rule covers spas, hot tubs and any above-ground pool deeper than 18 inches, plus related equipment. Shallower wading pools aren't covered.
- What are the pool fence requirements in Morro Bay, California?
- The city code sections we reviewed don't set pool barrier standards; California's Swimming Pool Safety Act sets the drowning-prevention requirements. Pool fences must still meet the city's fence height limits, generally 6 feet 6 inches outside front and corner side setbacks.
- Do I need a coastal permit for a pool in Morro Bay, California?
- Generally no for an existing single-family home, but the exemption doesn't apply on a beach, in a wetland or sensitive habitat, in a highly scenic area, or within 50 feet of a coastal bluff edge.
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
- Sec. 17.23.160, Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.23 General Site Regulations (17.23.020 accessory structures; 17.23.050 setback encroachments; 17.23.060 fences and freestanding walls; 17.23.160 swimming pools and spas), p. 1
Swimming pools, spas, and any body of water having a depth of more than eighteen inches and related equipment shall comply with the setback requirements in Table 17.23.160, Swimming Pool and Spa Setbacks. The setback is measured to the outside wall of the water-containing portion of the swimming pool or spa.
- Table 17.23.160, Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.23 General Site Regulations (17.23.020 accessory structures; 17.23.050 setback encroachments; 17.23.060 fences and freestanding walls; 17.23.160 swimming pools and spas), p. 1
RS and RL Required building setback plus 5 feet 5 feet All other districts Required building setbacks
- Sec. 17.39.020(A), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.39 Coastal Development Permits (IP), p. 1
Improvements to an existing single-family residence, including fixtures and structures directly attached to a residence, landscaping, and structures normally associated with a single-family residence, such as garages, swimming pools, fences and storage sheds.
- Sec. 17.23.060(A)(2), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.23 General Site Regulations (17.23.020 accessory structures; 17.23.050 setback encroachments; 17.23.060 fences and freestanding walls; 17.23.160 swimming pools and spas), p. 1
Fences, walls, dense hedges, and similar structures located outside the required front and corner side setback areas may be a maximum of six feet, six inches high.