Do you need a permit for a swimming pool in Chicago?
It depends on the project. Chicago exempts some swimming pools from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 48 inches, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Chicago's rule“Installing, altering, or removing a swimming pool serving a residential building with no more than 3 units (Group R-5 occupancy), that has a water depth of 48 inches or less and a 90% water volume of 5,000 gallons or less…”1
City of Chicago, Department of Buildings, Small Permanent Structures
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Depth > 48 in: plan-based building permit | Installation of a private residential swimming pool requires a plan-based building permit.2 |
| Building permit | Depth ≤ 48 in and volume > 5,000 gal: Express permit for other work | An express permit for other work , based on a dimensioned sketch, is required for any pool with a water depth of 48 inches or less and a volume greater than 5,000 gallons when 90% full.2 |
| Electrical permit | Any non-cord-and-plug electrical connection | An express permit for electrical work is required for any permanent or temporary electrical connection or electrical wiring, other than a cord-and-plug connection.2 |
| Plumbing permit | Permanent connection to Chicago waterworks | An express permit for plumbing work is required for any permanent connection to the Chicago waterworks system.2 |
Limits and conditions in Chicago'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 | 48 inches | With a water depth no greater than 48 inches (4 feet)…2 |
| Exempt up to this volume | 5,000 gallons | With a volume no greater than 5,000 gallons when 90% full…2 |
| Exempt up to this excavation depth | 5 feet | Installed at ground level or in-ground but not requiring excavation deeper than 5 feet…2 |
Above-ground pools in Chicago
Depends on size or scope
Chicago's rule for above-ground pools“Installing, altering, or removing a swimming pool serving a residential building with no more than 3 units (Group R-5 occupancy), that has a water depth of 48 inches or less and a 90% water volume of 5,000 gallons or less…”1
City of Chicago, Department of Buildings, Small Permanent Structures
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Pools exempt below this depth | 48 inches | With a water depth no greater than 48 inches (4 feet)…2 |
| Exempt up to this volume | 5,000 gallons | With a volume no greater than 5,000 gallons when 90% full…2 |
| Exempt up to this excavation depth | 5 feet | Installed at ground level or in-ground but not requiring excavation deeper than 5 feet…2 |
What to submit
- Architect/engineer sealed construction documents for >48 in pools2
Who can apply
- Architect/structural engineer or licensed expediter starts the plan-based application2
Special areas and extra reviews
- Outdoor private residential pools usable June 1-September 15 only2
Who to ask
City of Chicago Department of Buildings3
Building permits
- Website
- chicago.gov3
- Apply online
- ipi.cityofchicago.org4
- Phone
- (312) 744-34493
- [email protected]5
- Address
- 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 900, Chicago, IL 606023
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (9th floor front desk, City Hall; no walk-in permit processing)6
- Inspections
- Online only: webapps1.cityofchicago.org7
Pool permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Chicago with 19 other cities on the national swimming pool permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- 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
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- What Types of Work Do Not Require a Building Permit? (Full List)City of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
- Guidance on Residential Swimming PoolsCity of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
- Department of Buildings (home page)City of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
- Express Permit ProgramCity of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
- Calculate the Cost of a Building PermitCity of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
- Current Operations: Frequently Asked QuestionsCity of Chicago, Department of BuildingsPosted September 29, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Permit-Related Building InspectionsCity of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026