Do you need a permit for a swimming pool in San Francisco?
Yes. San Francisco requires a permit for a swimming pool1.
On this page
Yes
San Francisco's rule“Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R, Division 3 Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18927 L).”1
City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building Inspection, The following work does not need a permit > Other
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Swimming pools and hot tubs (routed building permit application) | Swimming pools and/or hot tubs X X # X X // # MECH only…2 |
Limits and conditions in San Francisco'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Above-ground prefabricated pools exempt up to | 5,000 gallons | Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R, Division 3 Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18927 L).1 |
Who can apply
Persons eligible to obtain a San Francisco Building Permit include: • Property Owners • State of California Licensed Contractors, or • An authorized agent for property owner or contractor…
3
Pool permit fees in San Francisco
Fee lines as San Francisco'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $1 to $2,000 | Based on project valuation | $181 for the first $500 plus $8.60 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,0004 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $1 to $2,000 | Based on project valuation | $206 for the first $500 plus $4 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,0004 |
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $2,001 to $50,000 | Based on project valuation | $310 for the first $2,000 plus $28.35 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,0004 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $2,001 to $50,000 | Based on project valuation | $266 for the first $2,000 plus $8.56 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,0004 |
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $50,001 to $200,000 | Based on project valuation | $1,617 for the first $50,000 plus $15.60 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $200,0004 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $50,001 to $200,000 | Based on project valuation | $677 for the first $50,000 plus $4.83 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $200,0004 |
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $200,001 to $500,000 | Based on project valuation | $4,011 for the first $200,000 plus $13.31 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,0004 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $200,001 to $500,000 | Based on project valuation | $1,402 for the first $200,000 plus $4.21 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,0004 |
All of San Francisco's fee lines are on the San Francisco permit page.
Inspections
- Building, plumbing/mechanical and electrical inspections (non-PermitSF permits)5 PermitSF permits: request inspections online from the PermitSF dashboard5
Who to ask
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI)6
Building permits
- Apply online
- sanfranciscoca.portal.opengov.com6
- Phone
- (628) 652-32006
- [email protected]6
- Address
- 49 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 941036
- Hours
- Mon 9:00 am-5:00 pm; Tue-Fri 8:00 am-5:00 pm; closed public holidays; Plan Review and Print Center queues close 4:30 pm6
- Inspections
- Voice Inspection Scheduling System 628-652-3401 (24/7) for non-PermitSF permits; PermitSF permits: request online from the PermitSF dashboard5
Pool permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare San Francisco 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
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Check if your construction project needs a permitCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 6, 2026
- Information Sheet G-20: Interim Criteria - Building Permit Application Routing to City AgenciesCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionPublished March 20, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
- Who Can Obtain a Building Permit? (and Property Owner / Licensed Contractor forms)City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
- Fee Schedule Table 1A-A: Building Permit Fees (July 2026)City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionEffective July 12, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Schedule and pay for your inspectionCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
- Department of Building Inspection | SF.govCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026