For newly built or remodeled residential pools in Pasadena and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley, state law requires at least two of seven approved drowning prevention safety features. The specific requirements are mandated by the California Health and Safety Code, which all cities in Pasadena's area building codes seek to enforce. 

Dual safety feature requirements 

Under the California Pool Safety Act, owners must install a minimum of two compliant features from the following list: 

• Secure enclosure: A barrier or fence that isolates the pool from the home. It must be at least 60 inches (5 feet) high and have secure, child-resistant spacing.
• Removable mesh fencing: Meets ASTM standards and features a self-latching gate with a lockable device.
• Approved safety cover: Must meet all ASTM specifications and securely cover the pool.
• Exit alarms: Audible alarms on all doors and windows that provide direct access to the pool area.
• Self-closing, self-latching devices: Doors accessing the pool must have a self-closing and self-latching mechanism with the release located at least 54 inches above the floor.
• Pool alarms: These must be in-pool alarms that sound upon unauthorized entry into the water and must meet ASTM Standard F2208.
• Equivalent protective measures: The city may approve other protective measures if they provide a degree of safety equal to or greater than the other listed devices. 



Other construction and electrical safety standards

Pasadena and other area cities also enforce additional construction and electrical safety requirements, including: 

• Anti-entrapment drains: The federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act, enforced by state law, requires all suction outlets to be covered with anti-entrapment grates that meet ASME/ANSI or ASTM standards.
• Electrical safety: All new or remodeled pools must have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection for electrical outlets. There are also specific rules about the distance of electrical wiring and devices from the pool's edge.
• Energy efficiency: As a part of enforcing state energy codes, Pasadena also requires new pools to use energy-efficient equipment, such as variable-speed pumps.

If you have questions about what requirements pertain to your specific pool situation, feel free to reach out to us at Pasadena Pool Cleaning and Repairs.