Yorba Linda Municipal Code Ch. 15.32 Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs

Note: Ord. 2022-1102 was repealed by Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025.

There is hereby adopted by reference, as the Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code of the City, the Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code, 2024 Edition, with certain amendments, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, one certified copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk for public inspection, and is adopted with the same force and effect as though set out herein in full. The Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code, 2024 Edition, as adopted herein, is amended as set forth in Sections 15.32.020 through 15.32.100.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)

Section 102.4, first paragraph, is amended to read as follows:

102.4 Additions, Alterations, or Repairs. Additions, alterations, renovations, or repairs to a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub system shall conform to that required for a new system. When the scope of the addition, alteration, renovation, or repair to a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub system is in excess of re-plastering, repairing plaster and repair or replacement of the tile in the swimming pool, spa, or hot tub, the entire pool and the required pool safety enclosure shall be made to conform to the requirements for a new swimming pool, spa, or hot tub as adopted by the jurisdiction. Additions, alterations, renovations, or repairs shall not cause an existing system to become unsafe, insanitary, or overloaded.

Section 104.3.1.1 is added to read as follows:

104.3.1.1 Plot Plans. The plans shall be provided with the following information. Such plans shall be drawn to a scale of not less than one-eighth (1/8) inch per foot.

Section 104.3.2, fourth paragraph, is amended to read as follows:

When plans are incomplete or changed so as to require additional plan review, an additional plan review fee shall be charged as established by resolution adopted by the City Council.

Section 104.4.1.1 Engineering Geology and Soils Engineering Reports is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 104.4.1.1 Engineering Geology and Soils Engineering Reports.

The Building Official may require an engineering geology or soils engineering report, or both, where in the Building Official's opinion, such reports are essential for the evaluation of the safety of the site. The engineering geology or soils engineering report or both shall contain a finding regarding the safety of the site of the proposed work against hazard from landslide, settlement or slippage and a finding regarding the effect that the proposed work will have on the geotechnical stability of the area outside of the proposed work. Any engineering geology report shall be prepared by an engineering geologist licensed in the State of California. Any soils engineering report shall be prepared by a civil engineer licensed in the State of California, experienced in the field of soil mechanics, or a geotechnical engineer licensed in the State of California. When both an engineering geology and soils engineering report are required for the evaluation of the safety of a building site, the two reports shall be coordinated before submission to the Building Official.

Section 104.4.3 is amended to read as follows:

104.4.3 Expiration.

104.4.3.1 Time limitation of applications. An application for which no permit is issued within 180 days following the date of application shall automatically expire, unless such application has been pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued. The plans and other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official. The Building Official may extend the time for action by the applicant for a period not exceeding 180 days upon receiving a written request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have prevented action from being taken. An application may be extended one or more times by the Building Official for additional periods not exceeding 180 days each. An application shall not be extended if this code or any other pertinent laws or ordinances have been amended subsequent to the date of application.

104.4.3.2 Time Limitation of Permits. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work authorized by such permit is commenced within 12 months after its issuance, or if the work authorized by such permit is abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The suspension or abandonment of work shall be defined as failing to obtain approval of a required inspection as specified in this code or obtaining a successful inspection as defined in City ordinance within a 180 day time period.

Section 104.4.4 is amended to read as follows:

104.4.4 Extensions.

104.4.4.1 Extension of an Application. An application for a permit may only be extended if a written request for an extension is received prior to the expiration of the permit application. The application for an extension shall state the reason for the extension and identify conditions beyond the control of the applicant which justify the extension. The application shall be reviewed by the Building Official and a decision whether to grant an extension shall be based upon the merits of the written request for the extension. Payment of the application fee shall not automatically grant an extension. Permit application extensions shall not be granted after the expiration of the original permit application and payment of plan review fees. Full plan review fees as set forth in the fee resolution adopted by the City Council shall be paid should the permit application expire.

104.4.4.2 Extension of a Permit. A permit may only be extended, with no additional permit fees charged, if a written request for an extension is received prior to the expiration of the permit and payment of a non-refundable application fee. The application for an extension shall state the reason for the extension and identify conditions beyond the control of the applicant which justify the extension. The application shall be reviewed by the Building Official and a decision whether to grant an extension shall be based upon the merits of the written request for the extension. No additional permit fees, other than the application fee shall be charged when the extension request is received prior to the permit expiration. Payment of the application fee shall not automatically grant an extension. Permits which have become invalid shall pay a renewal fee of 50% of the original permit fee when the permit has been expired for up to one (1) year. When a permit has been expired for a period in excess of one (1) year, the renewal fee shall be 100% of the original permit fee.

Section 104.5 Fees is amended to read as follows:

104.5 Permit Fees. Fees shall be assessed in accordance with the provisions of this section and as established by resolution adopted by the City Council at the rate provided for each classification shown therein.

Section 104.5.1 is amended to read as follows:

104.5.1 Investigation Fees: Work Without a Permit.

104.5.1.1 Investigation. Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be conducted by the Building Official, or their approved designee. Prior to the special investigation all concealed structural and non-structural items shall be exposed to allow an accurate assessment of the unpermitted construction. The items to be exposed shall include, but not limited to, foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing and mechanical.

104.5.1.2 Fee. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee that would be required by this code if a permit were to be issued. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this code or from any penalty prescribed by law.

104.5.1.3 Emergency Work. The investigation fee shall not apply to emergency work when it shall be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Administrative Authority that such work was urgently necessary and that it was not practical to obtain a permit therefore before commencement of the work. In all such cases, a permit must be obtained as soon as it is practical to do so, and if there be an unreasonable delay in obtaining such permit, an investigation fee as herein provided shall be charged.

Section 104.5.2 is hereby deleted in its entirety.

Section 104.5.3 amended to read as follows:

104.5.3 Fee Refunds. The Building Official may authorize refunding of a fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.

104.5.3.1. The Building Official may authorize refunding of not more than 80% of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code.

104.5.3.2. The Building Official may authorize refunding of not more than 80% of the plan review fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any examination time has been expended.

104.5.3.3. The Building Official shall not authorize the refunding of any fee paid except upon written application filed by the original permittee not later than 180 days after the date of fee payment.

Section 105.2.6 Reinspections, is hereby amended to read as follows:

105.2.6 Reinspections. The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall have the authority to assess a reinspection fee for each inspection or reinspection when such portion of work for which inspection is requested is not complete or when required corrections have not been made. Reinspection fees may also be assessed when the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector, or failure to provide access on the date for which inspection is requested or for deviating from plans requiring the approval of the Building Official or requesting a reinspection of the same item three or more times.

This provision is not to be interpreted as requiring reinspection fees the first time a job is rejected for failure to comply with the requirements of this code, but as controlling the practice of calling for inspections before the job is ready for inspection or reinspection.

To obtain reinspection, the applicant shall file an application therefore in writing upon a form furnished for that purpose and pay the reinspection fee established by resolution adopted by the City Council.

In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the required fees have been paid.

Section 105.2.7 is added to read as follows:

105.2.7 Extra inspections. When extra inspections are necessary by reason of deficient or defective work, repeated partial inspection requests, or otherwise through fault or error on the part of the holder of the permit or on the part of his employees, only one such extra inspection shall be made under the regular fees as herein prescribed; and the holder of the permit shall be entirely responsible for each and every subsequent extra visit or inspection. A reinspection fee shall be paid for every subsequent extra visit or inspection.

Section 105.2.8 is hereby added to read as follows:

105.2.8 Successful inspection. An inspection performed by the building official or designee resulting in an approval, partial approval, correction or other progressive action demonstrating a good faith effort working towards the completion of the project or a portion thereof. Miscellaneous, progress inspections, construction site maintenance conditions, unpermitted work, and other non-construction inspections are not successful inspections.

Table 104.5 "Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Permit Fees" is deleted in its entirety from the code and all references to Table 104.5 are amended to read "in accordance with resolution adopted by the City Council."

Section 108.0 is hereby added to read as follows:

108.1 New Pool and Spa Construction Requirements. All new pools must comply with this code. Plans submitted to the City for swimming pools, spas or hot tubs to be constructed shall show compliance with the requirements of all applicable codes and ordinances. Final inspection and approval of all pools or spas hereafter constructed shall be withheld until there has been compliance with all requirements of this code.

Section 108.2 is hereby added to read as follows:

108.2 Modification of Requirements. Following written request by the owner or the owner's authorized agent, the Building Official may modify the requirements of this code, where, in the judgment of the Building Official, such request is justified and will not result in unsafe conditions. Such modifications do not extend to actions that are necessary to correct violations of the code. As code violation or the expense of correcting one cannot constitute a practical difficulty. The Building Official may require that evidence or proof in the form of affidavits be submitted to substantiate or justify such requests and may apply reasonable conditions to ensure ultimate compliance with Section 108.2 in the event of a change of conditions.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)

Section 210.0 Definitions is hereby amended with the addition of revised definitions to read as follows:

Handholds.

A handhold is a piece of equipment or appurtenance provided along the perimeter of swimming pools that is slip-resistant and intended to be used for an individual to grasp when in distress, to steady themselves as they enter or exit, or to situate oneself within the swimming pool. Handholds shall be considered the overhang portion of bull nosed coping, cantilevered decking, or a fixed cantilevered element not extending more than 2 inches and not less than 1 inch over the design pool water line horizontally. Handholds shall be no greater than 2 ½ inches in thickness and a minimum of 1 inch in thickness and spaced no greater than 4 feet on center, and 6 inches minimum in length. All handholds shall be fixed and stable and a maximum of 12 inches above the design waterline level.

Swimming Pool.

Any constructed or prefabricated structure holding a body of water exceeding eighteen (18) inches in depth used for swimming, bathing, meditating or observation. This shall include swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, fountains, ponds or other any other body of water.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)

Section 513.4 is amended to read as follows:

513.4 Availability of a Public Sewer. Waste water from a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub shall be discharged directly into the sanitary sewer. If a sanitary sewer is not located in the area, dechlorinated waste water that satisfies the following criteria may be discharged on the surface on a case-by-case basis:

A. The residual chlorine does not exceed 0.1 mg/L (parts per million).

B. The pH is between 6.5 and 8.5.

C. The water is free of any unusual coloration.

D. There is no discharge of filter media.

E. There is no discharge of acid cleaning wastes.

Section 513.5, Used for Irrigation , is deleted in its entirety.

Section 513.6, Drywells , is deleted in its entirety.

Section 513.7, Separation Tanks , is deleted in its entirety.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)

Section 603.1, General, is amended to read as follows:

603.1 General. The design, installation, alteration, modification, construction, maintenance, and testing of the electrical systems and equipment associated with a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub shall comply with the 2025 Edition of the California Electrical Code.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)

Chapter 8, Safety, is deleted in its entirety.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)

Section 902.4 Guardrails, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Guardrails shall be provided for all diving and sliding equipment exceeding 30 inches in height measured from the pool deck, or any surface below to the top end of the board, surface, or slide. Guardrails shall be not less than 42 inches above the diving or sliding surface and extend not less than 6 inches past the edge of a pool wall, man-made element or natural element.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)

Appendix A is hereby deleted in its entirety.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)

Appendix B is hereby deleted in its entirety.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)

Appendix C is hereby deleted in its entirety.

(Ord. 2025-1118, 10/21/2025)