Do you need a permit for a swimming pool in Denver?
Yes. Denver requires a permit for a swimming pool1. Work that needs no building permit can still need zoning approval.
On this page
Yes
Denver's rule“Pools that are installed as a permanent structure require zoning and sewer use and drainage (SUDP) permits. Interior or in-ground, exterior pools also require building permits.”1
City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development, Permits > Construction Permits
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Interior or in-ground exterior pools | Interior or in-ground, exterior pools also require building permits.1 |
| Zoning permit or review | Any permanent pool | Pools that are installed as a permanent structure require zoning and sewer use and drainage (SUDP) permits.1 |
| Right-of-way permit | SUDP (sewer use and drainage permit) for any permanent pool | Pools that are installed as a permanent structure require zoning and sewer use and drainage (SUDP) permits.1 |
| Pool barrier permit | Any pool/spa barrier fence | Exception: Any fence providing a barrier for a swimming pool or spa requires a permit.2 |
Limits and conditions in Denver'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 | 24 inches | 13. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to one- and two-family dwellings, townhouse units, and Group R-3 Occupancies that are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep, are not greater than 5,000 gallons (18 925 L) and are installed entirely above ground.2 |
| Temporary pools exempt? | Yes | Temporary pools that will be removed at the end of the season do not require permits.1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning approval needed even without a building permit? | Yes | Pools that are installed as a permanent structure require zoning and sewer use and drainage (SUDP) permits.1 |
What to submit
- Boundary survey if pool/equipment within 3 ft of property line1
- Shoring plan if excavation1
- Site plan showing barriers and equipment1
Who can apply
- Homeowners may apply if eligible1
Pool permit fees in Denver
Fee lines as Denver'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 fee (valuation table) | Based on project valuation | $501.00 to $2,000.00 $35.00 03 |
All of Denver's fee lines are on the Denver permit page.
Special areas and extra reviews
- Landmark/historic district: Certificate of Appropriateness1
- Floodplain or digging within 2 ft of sewer line: SUDP may be required1
- Private pools may not be rented commercially1
Who to ask
Community Planning and Development (CPD), Building Permitting and Inspections Services Agency2
Building permits
- Website
- denvergov.org4
- Apply online
- aca-prod.accela.com5
- Phone
- (720) 865-27006
- [email protected]6
- Address
- 201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 205, Denver, CO 80202 (Webb Municipal Building, 2nd floor)6
- Hours
- Phone line Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.6
- Inspections
- Online via e-permits (aca-prod.accela.com/DENVER); inspections completed within 2 business days7
Pool permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Denver 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
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Swimming Pools, Spas, and Water Features - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- 2025 Denver Building Code (2nd Printing, November 2025)City and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentPublished November 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Building and Land Development Fees - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Community Planning and Development - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- City and County of Denver | ePermit online (Denver's Permitting and Licensing Center)City and County of DenverChecked November 7, 2026
- Contact us - Community Planning and DevelopmentCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Building Inspections - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026