POOL DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS

Any resident/business meaning to drain any swimming pool, spa, fountain, or decorative water feature is needing to pull a Pool Drain Permit. There are no fees currently involved in pulling the permit and applying will notify Code Compliance of a draining occurring with permission rather than without permission. For the purposes of this permit, a fountain or decorative water feature being drained only needs a permit when there's going to be in excess of 1,000 cubic feet of water to be drained. Water is NOT to be drained to the public sewer system for any reason.

New swimming pools, spas, spools, or pool/spa remodels require a pool permit from the Building & Safety Department. A separate Pool Drainage Permit needs to be obtained for the draining of the pool.

Resurfacing (plaster/pebbletec) of an existing pool with no additional work of the pool, lines, drains, or equipment DOES NOT require a permit. However, a separate Pool Drainage Permit needs to be completed.  Pool Drainage Permits are obtained through the online customer self-service portal at Palm Springs Online - access to the site is available at the below hyperlink.

https://palmspringsca-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/SelfService#/home

 

Pool drainage shall be permitted MONDAY - THURSDAY from 7:00PM - 6:00AM.

The Permit Holder shall be responsible for providing barricades and/or warning devices if necessary to protect the public from injury or damage occasioned by the Permit Holder's equipment or apparatus. The permit holder shall also be responsible for damages to public and private property during pool drainage. The creation of a nuisance may also be the cause for revocation of any permit.

CHLORINATED WATER MAY NOT BE DISCHARGED!

The Permit Holder must stop the chlorination of pool, spa, decorative water feature, or fountain 3-7 days prior to pumping the water. The Permit Holder must use a standard pool test kit to ascertain that the level of chlorine in the water is of the low end of the scale. Unchlorinated water may be discharged into the concrete gutter of the public street (if allowed - see below). For streets with no curb and gutter, unchlorinated water may be discharged onto private property to percolate into the ground or in a manner that will not cause soil erosion into the public street.

 

Portions of City of Palm Springs streets are controlled by the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans). Specifically, State Route 111 ( SR 111) starting North Palm Canyon Drive from I-10 to Vista Chino, Vista Chino to Gene Autry Trail, Gene Autry Trail to East Palm Canyon Drive, East Palm Canyon Drive to City Limits. Neighborhoods are not allowed to drain in areas that will outlet onto state highways. Residents living in these NO DRAIN AREAS will be required to drain pool water into a truck and hauled away or allow it to slowly water the vegetation on their property, keeping all water from draining into public streets.

Swimming Pool Drain Areas

The four NO DRAIN AREAS shown on the map above are:

AREA 1: Tramview Road on the north end down to Vista Chino (SR 111) to the south, and SR 111 at Northgate on the west end to Indian Canyon Drive  to the east.

AREA 2: Via Escuela on the north end down to Vista Chino (SR 111) to the south, and Indian Canyon Drive on the west end to Via Miraleste to the east.

AREA 3: Desert Park Avenue on the north end to Vista Chino (SR 111) to the south, and Sunrise Way on the west end to Farrell Drive to the east.

AREA 4: Vista Chino (SR 111) on the north end to Tachevah Drive to the south, and Whitewater Club Drive on the west end to Gene Autry Trail (SR 111) to the east.

 

A copy of the associated permitting process memo is available at the below hyperlink:

SWIMMING POOL DRAINAGE PERMIT PROCESS