Building Permit Basics For Swimming Pools

If you build a pool, you are going to need permits to do so. Don't panic though, most builders take care of getting this for you. It is typically a good rule of thumb to only deal with contractors that will obtain the permit for you. In some areas you may not need a permit and it may be something that you are required to do yourself by law. The builder should know what the deal is.

Once you have signed your contract, the pool builder will submit to the appropriate authority (usually a zoning officer) an application to obtain a building permit on your behalf. Depending on where you live, this can be approved in the same day, a few weeks or even months. It can also cost a few bucks or thousands of dollars.

The costs associated with permits vary greatly because every area has its' own quirks. You may be required to have surveys done or even engineering certification.

Included in the permit application are the design, engineering, plans and specs for your pool.

After the permit is approved (and sometimes they take several submitalls to get there), the builder will be ready to start your project. That could be tomorrow or it could be weeks. The time of the year and the schedule of the builder will dictate this.

It is important to keep in mind that some areas will require separate permits for work like electric, gas and fence. Make sure you find out what the builder obtains, what the subcontractors get on their own and what you need to do yourself before they start the project. Time and time again a homeowner finds out they need a separate permit for a fence the day before the pool is scheduled to be finished. In some places, it takes 5 minutes to get a fence permit. In others, this can hold you up for days.

Also, if you live within the limits of a major city, it is quite possible that permitting is very strict and takes a long time. Contractors may even require special licensing there that they do not normally need in other places. Most likely, if the builder is coming to your house for an appointment, they already have that license or aware of what fees they need to pay to get it.