Do you need a permit for a swimming pool in Phoenix?
Yes. Phoenix requires a permit for a swimming pool1.
On this page
Yes
Phoenix's rule“Obtaining a permit for a pool is important to ensure the health and safety of the community.”1
City of Phoenix, Planning & Development Department
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | All pools/spas except small prefabricated above-ground pools | Swimming pools and spas…2 |
Limits and conditions in Phoenix's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Pools exempt below this depth | 18 inches | Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than [...] 18 inches (457 mm) deep, are not greater than 5,000 gallons (18,925 L) and are installed entirely above ground.3 |
Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).
| Zoning rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Side and rear setback | 3 feet | Note: Per zoning swimming pools are to maintain a minimum setback of three feet from exterior property lines.4 |
What to submit
- Application and plot plan by email1
- Survey waiver when water's edge is under 5 ft from the property line4
Pool permit fees in Phoenix
Fee lines as Phoenix's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming pool minimum permit fee and aquatics surcharge | Minimum fee | Swimming pools are subject to a minimum permit fee of $234. A $30 aquatics program surcharge is also added to every swimming pool permit in accordance to Ordinance G-3114.5 |
All of Phoenix's fee lines are on the Phoenix permit page.
Inspections
Review time
5 days4. This is the department's published figure, not a guarantee.
Arizona law that applies
- State rules on which work needs a permit in Arizona
- Homeowners doing their own work in Arizona
- Contractor licensing in Arizona
Who to ask
City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department7
Building permits
- Website
- phoenix.gov8
- Apply online
- shapephx.phoenix.gov9
- Phone
- (602) 261-80788
- [email protected]8
- Address
- 200 West Washington Street, Second Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 8500310
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except major holidays10
- Inspections
- Online via SHAPE PHX (residential) or phone 602-495-08007
Pool permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Phoenix with 19 other cities on the national swimming pool permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Residential Pool/Spa PermitsCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- How to Obtain a Residential Building Permit (Residential Single-Family Construction Permit Guide, TRT 00823)City of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentRevised February 2020Checked November 7, 2026
- 2024 International Building Code Administrative Provisions (IBC Chapter 1), Phoenix amendmentsCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentEffective August 1, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Pool/Spa Residential Permits Most Frequently Asked Questions (TRT/DOC/00913)City of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentRevised March 2021Checked November 7, 2026
- PDD Fee Schedule, Phoenix City Code Chapter 9, Appendix A.2City of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentEffective January 20, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Pool Barriers Requirements (TRT/DOC/00144)City of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentRevised January 2026Checked November 6, 2026
- Inspection Request/CancellationCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Residential BuildingCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Help with My Home ProjectCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Contact Planning and DevelopmentCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 6, 2026