Do you need a permit for a swimming pool in Austin?
It depends on the project. Austin 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
Austin's rule“A swimming pool that is prefabricated and less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep.”1
City of Austin, Austin Development Services, Building - Residential
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Pool construction, replacement or repair | Pool or uncovered wooden deck construction, replacement or repair for a residential single-family, duplex, or two-family house lot…2 |
| Plumbing permit | Pool with autofill or heating system | Will this pool have an autofill or heating system? Y N (If yes, this will trigger a plumbing permit)…3 |
Limits and conditions in Austin'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 | A swimming pool that is prefabricated and less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep.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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chain-link barrier minimum height | 60 inches | (E) The height of a chain link fence shall be at least 60 inches.4 |
What to submit
Who can apply
- Registered general contractor (homeowner may register as GC)6
Pool permit fees in Austin
Fee lines as Austin'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Small Projects Plan Review (Garage Conversions and Carport/Porch enclosures, Amnesty CO, Fences, Pools) | Plan review | $146.157 |
| Application Processing Fee | Plan review | $112.767 |
All of Austin's fee lines are on the Austin permit page.
Inspections
- 101 Building Layout5
- 300 Electrical Slab (Pre-pour)5
- 302 Electrical Ground (Pre-pour)5
- 507 Plumbing Gas Yard Line (if gas heater)5
- 305 Final Electrical5
- 521 Final Plumbing (if applicable)5
- 112 Final Building5
Review time
5 business days2. This is the department's published figure, not a guarantee.
Special areas and extra reviews
- Floodplain review within 100 ft of 100-year floodplain3
Who to ask
Austin Development Services8
Building permits
- Website
- austintexas.gov8
- Apply online
- abc.austintexas.gov9
- Phone
- (512) 978-400010
- Address
- Permitting and Development Center (PDC), 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Austin, Texas 7875211
- Hours
- Building hours Mon-Fri 7:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; standard staff service hours Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m.11
- Inspections
- Online via AB+C Portal or by phone (IVR 512-974-9405)12
Pool permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Austin 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
- Philadelphia, PA
Sources
- Work Exempt From Building Permits | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Residential Plan Review | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Residential Pool and/or Uncovered Deck Permit ApplicationCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesRevised April 5, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
- Ordinance No. 20250410-043 (2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and local amendments, City Code Ch. 25-12…City of Austin, City CouncilEffective July 10, 2025Checked November 6, 2026
- Residential Inspections - Swimming Pool and Spa Inspections ChecklistCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesRevised February 22, 2022Checked November 7, 2026
- Activating a Permit | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- City of Austin Fee Schedule | Residential Building Plan Review & Inspection Permit FeesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesEffective October 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Contact Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Express Permits | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Homeowner Permitting Resources | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Visit The PDC | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Schedule a Building Inspection | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026