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How to Operate a Public Pool, Spa, or Spray Ground

Community Development Agency

Get an overview of the rules for maintaining public pools, spas, or spray grounds.

This page is only an overview of some of the rules and regulations that apply to public pools, spas, and spray grounds.

For comprehensive guidance, see California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Swimming Pool Requirements.

Set up clear operating procedures

  • Every public pool needs to be supervised by a person responsible for pool operations and pool chemistry (pool operator)
  • Operating records for the pool need to be on site and available to staff and inspectors

Keep detailed records

Daily records

At least once a day, you need to test and keep written records of:

  • Disinfectant residual
  • pH levels
  • Temperature
  • Maintenance, like cleaning filters and the amount of chemicals you’ve used
  • Repairs that occurred that day
  • Accidents and incidents

Use our daily pool chemistry log sheet to record some of this information.

Keep all records on site for at least 2 years.

Cyanuric acid

If you use cyanuric acid, measure, and record levels at least once a month.

Equipment manuals and instructions

Keep instructions and manuals for operating and maintaining all mechanical and electrical equipment and water treatment systems.

Other records

You also need to keep records when:

  • Poop, vomit, or blood gets in the pool or spa
  • Someone trips and is injured on the pool deck
  • Someone drowns or almost drowns

If you operate more than one pool, make sure to note which pool was affected.

Keep chemicals at required levels

These are the legal requirements for pools open to the public:

  • Free chlorine minimum level:
    • Without adding chlorine stabilizer: 1.0 ppm
    • With added chlorine stabilizer: 2.0 ppm
  • Free chlorine maximum: 100 ppm
  • PH: Must be between 7.2 and 7.8
  • Cyanuric acid stabilizer maximum: 100 ppm

For spas and wading pools:

  • Free chlorine level: Must be between 3.0 and 10 ppm
  • PH: Must be between 7.2 and 7.8
  • Cyanuric acid stabilizer maximum: 100 ppm

If testing shows your pool or spa isn’t meeting these requirements, we may close it right away. The pool will stay closed until you meet all chemical requirements and an inspector says you can reopen.

Visit our website for guidance on using Taylor brand DPD test kits to measure levels of free chlorine and pH.

Follow requirements for pool equipment and the surrounding area

When the pool is open to the public:

  • All pool equipment must be operating
  • You must keep cleaning equipment (such as pool sweeps) out of the pool

At all times:

  • Do not put chlorine tablets in the skimmer or in a floating dispensing device
  • Pool main drain cover must be undamaged and secured in place so that it can only be removed with tools
  • All skimmers must have a weir (barrier in a skimmer that water flows over) and a removable strainer basket
  • All gates must be closed at all times and not propped open
  • All gates opening onto the pool area must be self-closing and self-latching

Take action if the water gets contaminated

Check out the Centers for Disease Control’s guidance on what to do when there’s poop in the water and call Environmental Health Services: 415-473-6907

Share changes in contact information

In case we need to contact you about an issue during inspection, we need to have accurate phone numbers for the:

  • Owner
  • Property manager
  • Pool service company

We also need an email address where we can send inspection reports.

If your contact information changes, call or email Environmental Health Services:

Phone: 415-473-6907

Email: marinehs@marincounty.org

Share keys, lockbox codes, or key codes

Our inspections are not scheduled, so our inspectors need keys, lockbox codes, or key codes to access the pool, equipment area, restrooms, and locker rooms.

Mail keys to Environmental Health Services:

Environmental Health Services
3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 236
San Rafael, CA 94903

Email lockbox codes or key codes to: marinehs@marincounty.org

Be sure to also provide the facility name, address, and identify the door/gate that the key or code unlocks.

Note that we store keys in a locked cabinet. We only remove them to do an on-site inspection. After the inspection, we return them to the locked cabinet.

If access to the pool, equipment area, restrooms, and locker rooms changes, please send new keys, lockbox codes, or key codes to us.