Public Pool or Spa New Construction or Major Upgrades
If you are building a new public pool or spa, or major upgrades are required for your existing pool or spa, please follow the steps below.
Avoid possible delays!
Contact your local building department for any building or construction requirements when you begin the public pool or spa permit application process.
Step 1: Submit Your Public Pool or Spa Plan for Approval
Plan Review Application Checklist
Download the entire Pool/Spa Plan Review Application Packet
Your plan review application must include:
- Plan review application form
- Download the plan review application form
- Plan review fee - See fee schedule for current fees
- The additional hourly fee will be assessed if needed. Fees for additional plan review hours will be due when you submit the operating permit application.
- The plan review service fee does not include the operating permit fee.
- Facility drawing - three (3) printed sets, plus one (1) electronic copy
- Manufacturer equipment specification sheets for each piece of equipment, one (1) printed set, plus one (1) electronic copy
- Pool/Spa Data Sheet (if needed)
Your plan review application will be reviewed within 20 business days of receipt. If your application is not approved, you will receive a notice detailing the information needed for approval. Resubmitted applications are reviewed within one (1) week of receipt.
Step 2: Take Approved Plan to the Building Department
You will receive a copy of your approved plan review application and two (2) sets of your approved pool or spa plan:
- One (1) set to keep on site for the contractor and the pool inspector to use.
- One (1) set to take to the building department.
Environmental Health retains one (1) set for our files and the original of the plan review application.
Step 3: Make an Appointment for Construction Inspections
Pre-gunite, pre-plaster and final opening inspections are required before opening for use and before a public pool or spa permit will be issued.
One week before each phase of the pre-gunite, pre-plaster and final construction is complete, please contact Environmental Health to make an appointment for an inspector to perform the needed inspection.
- Phone: (707) 565-6565
- The building department will also need to provide you with a final approval.
All construction and operational aspects of your project must be completed and approved before you apply for your public pool or spa permit.
Step 4: Apply for a Public Pool or Spa Permit
You should have received a public pool or spa permit application from your inspector during your construction inspection. You may also download and print this form below. Please complete and submit it to Environmental Health along with a copy of your final construction inspection and the appropriate fee to:
- Environmental Health
625 5th Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 - Google Maps™ Directions
- Visa or MasterCard payments are accepted over the phone at 707-565-6565
- Download the operating permit application
Step 5: Maintain Your Permit
When a permit is issued to a public pool or spa in Sonoma County, the initial inspection is performed within 30 days. All public pools and spas must pay to renew their permit in April each year and are inspected twice a year.