4 Construction details including foundation,
structure, plumbing, mechanical, electrical,
How to Apply for a
Permit to Build or
Repair a Pool or Spa
What kinds of permits do I need
to build or repair a pool or spa?
4 A combination permit, which
includes separate building,
plumbing, mechanical, and
electrical permits
4 Approval from your water district,
Geotechnical, and possibly other County
sections
4 Planning approval
4 Depending upon your property’s location,
you may need additional approvals. If your
home is near the coast, for example, you
may need a design review and a coastal
development permit.
Do I have to visit all of these
offices individually?
Building will automatically route your application
and plans to most of them. You will be
responsible for showing plans to your water
district
How do I apply for a permit?
Submit an application to Building that
identifies the property, lists the name of
any architect or engineer who will
work on the project, and describes the
proposed work in detail. Along with this
application, submit three sets of the following:
4 A plot plan showing the entire property,
including the proposed pool or spa and its
mechanical equipment, and any driveways,
walkways, parking areas, wells, retaining
walls, utilities, easements, trees, or other
structures.
11014.vp ds 5-14-02
4 A final inspection is conducted when the
pool is completed and all fencing, alarms,
and any special design features
4 Engineering data, including signed
calculations and geotechnical report
4 Energy calculation data.
A separate handout entitled Plan Requirements
describes requirements in greater detail and gives
you examples of how the various plans should be
drawn.
At what point should I call for an
inspection of my project?
Prior to the permit being issued, a
pre-site inspection will be required. The
applicant must contact the Building
Inspection Section at (650) 599-7311 to
schedule this inspection. It is the
responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the
inspector has access to the property where the
pool will be constructed. If no one will be home
on the day of the pre-site inspection, the
applicant must call this office on the morning of
the inspection and advise the inspector how he
or she can obtain access to the construction site.
Gates must be unlocked and dogs or other
animals secured in an area that does not require
access by the inspector. The plan check of the
permit cannot be completed until this pre-site
inspection is conducted.
Although projects may vary, generally speaking,
the following inspections will be required during
the construction.
4 A pre-gunite inspection will be required
when the excavation is completed,
reinforcing steel is in-place, circulation
piping install (and under test), and forming
shells for lighting are installed.
4 An inspection of all gas piping and electrical
associated with pool is required. Gas piping
must be under test.
4 An inspection of the decking must be
performed before concrete is placed. All
bonding of metallic parts will be reviewed
at this time.
pool covers, etc. have been installed or
completed.
What fees must I pay?
You must pay building, planning,
plumbing, electrical, plan check, filing,
and microfilm fees.
What’s the next step in this
process?
Read the pamphlet General
Procedures When You Apply for a
Planning or Building Permit This
pamphlet explains the general
procedures for applying for a permit, paying fees,
calling for inspections, and other related matters.
Then you should also review the following
documents, which contain other information that
you may need:
How to Apply for Design Review
How to Apply for a Coastal Development
Permit
Geotechnical Requirements
After you have become familiar with these
documents, we recommend that you prepare
some very preliminary plans and bring them to
the DRC counter so that we can review them. An
informal meeting at this stage may save you
considerable time and money later on.
If you are new to San Mateo County, you may
also wish to make an appointment to meet with
staff as part of the County’s Early Assistance
Meeting Program. Early assistance meetings are
designed to acquaint owner/builders,
contractors, architects, and other professionals
who are new to the area or unfamiliar with our
permit system, with the different agencies
involved, and the various costs and requirements.
There is no charge for the meeting, which you
can schedule by calling (650) 363-1825.
 San Mateo County
Permit Process to Build or Planning and Building Division

Repair a Pool or Spa

How to Apply
for a Permit
to Build or
Repair a Pool
or Spa

County Government Center

455 County Center, Second Floor

Redwood City, California 94063

(650) 599-7311

FAX (650) 363-4849

email: INTERNET:plngbldg@co.sanmateo.ca.us
web site address:
http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/planning