Do you need a permit for a swimming pool in Philadelphia?
It depends on the project. Philadelphia exempts some swimming pools from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 24 inches, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Philadelphia's rule“Prefabricated swimming pools or spas, less than 24 in. deep, less than 5,000 gallons.”1
City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and Inspections, Projects that may not need permits > Accessory structures and features
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Pools other than small prefabricated | Above-ground and in-ground pools and spas…2 |
| Electrical permit | All pool electrical work | Separate permits are required for all electrical and plumbing installations associated with the installation of the pool or spa.3 |
Limits and conditions in Philadelphia'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 | Prefabricated swimming pools or spas, less than 24 in. deep, less than 5,000 gallons.1 |
| Express permit: distance from property line or structure | 2 feet | The pool or spa, accompanying structure, and equipment must not be located in the front or side yard, and not within two feet of any property line or structure on the lot.3 |
| Express permit: distance from property line | Equal to the depth of the pool adjoining the property line | In-ground pools must be located a minimum distance from all property lines equal to the depth of the pool adjoining such property lines.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 |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning approval needed even without a building permit? | No | Swimming pools installed on the property of a one-or-two-family dwelling.4 |
Pool permit fees in Philadelphia
Fee lines as Philadelphia'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 Pools, Residential (1 or 2 family) | Flat fee | Swimming Pools $695 |
All of Philadelphia's fee lines are on the Philadelphia permit page.
Special areas and extra reviews
48" high barrier.
3
Who to ask
Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I)6
Building permits
- Apply online
- eclipse.phila.gov6
- Phone
- 311; (215) 686-8686 outside Philadelphia1
- Address
- 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 191026
- Hours
- Permit and License Center (MSB, Public Service Concourse): 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; by appointment1
- Inspections
- ECLIPSE or IVR (215) 255-40401
Pool permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Philadelphia 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
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Get a Building PermitCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Get permits without plans (EZ permits)City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- EZ Permit Standard: Pools and Spas (PB_010_F)City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsRevised July 2026Checked November 6, 2026
- Get a Zoning PermitCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 5, 2026
- PG_012_INF Construction Permit Fees (Rev 7.2026), Effective October 1, 2026City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsRevised July 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Department of Licenses and Inspections | HomepageCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026