Permits · updated October 2026

Pool Permits, Setbacks and Engineering by Jurisdiction

Every new inground pool here needs a building permit, and the agency depends on where the lot sits. Walnut Creek and Danville run their own building departments; unincorporated Alamo, Blackhawk and Diablo go through Contra Costa County, which requires 5 ft from side and rear lot lines to the water's edge and engineer-stamped calcs. Lafayette and Moraga do local planning review, then County Building Inspection.

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Rules by jurisdiction

Where	Who issues it	What to know	Source
Contra Costa County Alamo, Blackhawk, Diablo, other unincorporated areas	County Building Inspection (ePermits)	Permit required. In-ground pools: 5 ft minimum from side and rear property lines to water's edge. Structural details and calcs stamped and signed by an engineer. Site plan showing house, structures, overhead and underground utilities, easements, pool, equipment and setbacks. Grading permit may also apply.	Handout · Pools page · Grading
Danville	Town of Danville	Three plan sets; grading and drainage plan; landscape plan under the water-efficient landscape ordinance; gas-line plan; equipment specs; stamped structural calcs. Geotechnical report on slopes over 5:1, un-engineered fill, slide areas or drainage swales.	Submittal list · Permit Center
Walnut Creek	City of Walnut Creek	Building permit for any in-ground pool (only small portable pools are on the no-permit list). Pools may not sit in a required front or street-side yard. Retaining walls over 4 ft need their own permit.	Zoning §10-2.3.112 · No-permit list · Pools page
Lafayette	City planning, then County Building Inspection	Zoning and planning review by the City; the building permit and inspections are handled by the County.	Lafayette building permits
Moraga	Town planning, then County Building Inspection	Moraga uses the County for plan check and inspection.	Moraga permit FAQ
Orinda	Confirm with the City	Reported to use County Building Inspection; confirm with Orinda planning before you submit.	Check with the City
Pleasant Hill · Concord	Own building divisions	Check each city's submittal list and setbacks.	Pleasant Hill · Concord
Clayton	County plan check	City zoning; County plan check and inspection.	Clayton

Summaries of the linked documents as read in October 2026, not legal advice. Rules change; the agency's current requirements govern.

The state safety law applies everywhere

When a permit is issued for a new pool or spa at a single-family home, at least two of seven drowning-prevention features are required under Health & Safety Code §115922, and the County handout repeats it. The seven features

HOA approvals

Blackhawk and Diablo add a private review layer on top of the County: Blackhawk's architectural review application and the Diablo Property Owners Association. Many Danville, Alamo and Walnut Creek subdivisions have CC&Rs too. Submit to the HOA early; most won't let work start before approval.

Who pulls the permit?

Normally the licensed pool contractor pulls the permit and schedules inspections, with the engineer's stamped drawings. If a builder asks you to pull an owner-builder permit for their work, treat it as a red flag: it shifts legal responsibility to you. Choosing a builder

Permit and plan-check fees are in the bid (or clearly excluded)
Engineering and any soils report are named and scheduled
The plan shows setbacks, easements, utilities and equipment location
Inspections are scheduled by the builder; you get copies of the signed-off card

Trees near the dig

Every city in this area protects certain trees, and oaks dominate the hills. Excavation inside a protected tree's root zone can need a permit even when the tree stays. Check the local ordinance (for example Danville's tree requirements) before you finalize the pool's location.

Sources

Read October 2026. Rules and prices change; confirm current requirements with the agency and your builder.