☐ Pump make and model information must be legible on the pump housing. Note that pump horsepower is taken from the pump housing, not the motor. If the label is not readable, provide pump information to your plan checker.

☐ The pump must be capable of meeting the minimum turnover rate at 60 feet of head.

☐ Pumps must not exceed the maximum allowable flow rates for the pipes or drain covers at the lowest Total Dynamic Head (TDH). 1

☐ Variable‑speed pumps may be programmed so they do not exceed maximum flow rates dictated by pipe size. The flow setting must be established and password‑protected to prevent tampering.

☐ New pumps shall have both a pressure gauge and a vacuum gauge installed.

☐ Drain covers must be on‑site during the pre‑plaster inspection.
☐  Main drain, booster, and feature suction covers must each be capable of accommodating 100% of the pump’s flow capacity at 0 feet of head.
☐ Equalizer covers must be capable of accommodating the skimmer flow.
☐ Drain covers that are discontinued or no longer supported by their manufacturers will not be accepted.
☐  Drain covers must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, including requirements for sump size, pipe orientation (bottom or side connection), and flow ratings.
☐ Suction outlet sumps and piping must be free of water and debris and must be fully visible for inspection.

Note 1: Sumps are measured from the top of the pipe to the underside of the drain cover see figure below. 
Note 2: Some larger suction outlet assemblies require certification by a registered design professional when a field‑built sump is used (e.g., Lawson Super Sump and Evoqua covers).

Figure 1 

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☐  Some channel drain covers, such as the Aquastar 32CDFL model, can no longer accommodate a single-pipe configuration according to the manufacturer. As a result, our agency will not accept certain channel drain models installed with a single pipe. Acceptance will be based on the most current manufacturer specification sheets.

☐ Existing bodies of water with single drains and SVRS devices—or split drains that cannot be verified as compliant—with planned remodeling will be required to split the drains.

☐  When splitting drains, the covers must be installed a minimum of three feet apart, measured center‑to‑center, and connected with a “T” configuration.
– The “T” branch piping must be exposed during the pre‑plaster inspection.
– The pipe size along the branch lines and the proposed drain covers must meet or exceed the recirculation pump flow at 60 feet of head, and must meet or exceed booster or feature pump flow at zero feet of head. 
– These requirements may necessitate a larger branch pipe size than the existing trunk piping (see Figure 2).
– Drain covers are sized based on the branch piping, not the trunk piping, although pump flow may still be limited by the smaller trunk line.

☐  Some suction outlet covers may be installed less than three feet apart if they are located on different planes. Always follow the cover manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Figure 2

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☐  Wall‑mounted inlets must be round and smooth.
☐  Wall‑mounted inlets must not protrude more than 1.25 inches from the wall surface.
☐  Floor‑mounted inlets must be flush with the pool bottom.

Regardless of the scope of work or existing site conditions, all steps and ladder configurations must comply with current requirements. Adjustments or modifications to existing steps may be necessary to achieve compliance.
Riser measurements for wall steps and entry steps are taken from the deck, not from the top of coping or waterline.

Pools/Spas/Waders Built Before 2012:
☐   Top step (straight) tread shall be a minimum of 12 inches wide (no maximum).
☐   Top step (rounded or triangle) tread shall be a minimum of 18 inches wide (no maximum).

Pools/Spas/Waders Built After 2012:
☐  Top step (straight) tread shall be 14–18 inches wide.
☐  Top step (rounded or triangle) tread shall be 21–24 inches wide.

All Years Built:
☐  Risers must be 12 inches or less, and must be uniform from shell to step, step to step, and step to deck.
☐   Treads (other than the top step) must be uniform and no greater than 12 inches wide.
☐   For waders where the distance from the deck to the shell exceeds 12 inches, a step must be installed. The step shall:
– be a minimum of 2 feet wide,
– have a 14–18 inch tread, and
– have a 12 inch or less riser, uniform from shell to step and step to deck.
☐  Construction tolerance is ± ½ inch, per code.
☐  Entry step handrails must be 28–36 inches above the step treads.
☐  Handrails and ladders must be in place and secure for the pre-plaster inspection.
☐  Entry steps must maintain a uniform shape from top to bottom.

Figure 3

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☐  Regardless of the scope of work or existing conditions, spa remodels must include a fully functioning emergency shut‑off switch.

☐  The switch must be clearly labeled with one‑inch high lettering.
☐  The switch must deactivate all pumps connected to the spa (circulation, booster, and feature pumps, if present).
☐  The switch must be visible from the spa and located no more than 15 feet away within the pool enclosure.

If replacing depth markers, the following requirements must be met. Existing depth markers will also be evaluated for condition, legibility, and general safety during inspection.

☐ Depth markers shall have four-inch-high lettering.
☐ Abbreviations shall be “FT” and “IN”.
☐ Depth markers must be installed on the waterline and on the deck within three feet of the water’s edge.
☐ Depth markers shall be accurate within six inches, as measured at the waterline.
☐ Deck depth markers must be slip-resistant, and waterline markers must be smooth.
☐ No‑diving symbol markers installed on deck must be adjacent to all depth markers at six feet and shallower, including spas and waders.
☐  A minimum of two depth markers with no‑diving symbols is required for spas and waders.

Unless black or dark blue tiles are being installed, it is strongly recommended that a sample of waterline or trim tiles be submitted to your plan checker for evaluation prior to installation.

☐ Waterline tiles shall be contrasting in color, smooth, and cleanable.
☐ Trim tiles shall be contrasting in color and slip‑resistant on steps and benches.
☐ Depth‑marking line tiles (for pools deeper than five feet) shall be a straight line, contrasting in color, slip‑resistant, and 4–6 inches wide at the 4½‑foot depth.
☐ Lane‑marking tiles shall be slip‑resistant and shall not exceed 12 inches in width.

☐  Regardless of the scope of work, the recirculation system must have a flow meter installed on the return line.

☐  The flow meter must be legible.
☐  The flow meter must provide readings within the pool’s required turnover rates.

New and existing coping must comply with the following requirements:

☐ Overhang shall be 1–2 inches.
☐ Edges shall be rounded and slip‑resistant.
☐ Coping must slope away from the pool.
☐ Maximum thickness at the handhold shall be 2.5 inches.
☐ Coping must be flush with the waterline/shell.

An approved list of coping can be found here. 

Regardless of the scope of work, fencing and gates must comply with the following requirements:

☐ The fence shall be a minimum of five feet high overall.
☐ The fence shall not contain gaps greater than four inches.
☐ Horizontal climbing surfaces (inside or outside the enclosure) must be at least four feet apart.
☐ No climbing footholds are permitted within a five‑foot arc measured from the top of the fence.
☐ Gates shall be self-closing and self-latching.

Learn more by visiting Pool Safety | Orange County California - Health Care Agency

☐Requirements below apply to new chemical feeders and controllers. Existing units will be evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis. All feeders and controllers must be NSF‑50 certified for commercial use.

☐ For an approved list of feeders, visit:
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/docs/inspection/approved-pool-equipment-list.pdf
☐ For an approved list of controllers, visit:
https://info.nsf.org/Certified/Pools
☐ Feeders must be capable of providing three pounds of chlorine per 10,000 gallons of pool water per day.

Requirements below apply only to new filters. Existing filters will be evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis.

☐ Filters must be NSF‑50 certified for commercial use. 
☐ Filters must be provided with valves for backwashing.
☐  Filters must accommodate the total flow of all circulation pumps, based on the manufacturer’s stated flow rates for the selected filtration media.
☐ Filter backwash must be indirectly drained to the sewer.
☐ DE filters must backwash through a separation tank.
☐ Cartridge filters require an approved wash‑down pad with drainage to the sewer.
☐ All filters must have a pressure gauge with a clean start‑up reading noted.