Pool Permit in Broward County, Florida
By Mario Bailey Last checked 2026-06-18 · 1 official source
Verified against official sources From an official sourcePermit required
Quick answer
A building permit is required for all residential pools and spas in unincorporated Broward County. Pools must be enclosed by a fence of at least 5 feet in height or a screen enclosure per Broward County Zoning Code requirements. A Notice of Commencement is required for projects of $2500 or more. Incorporated cities in Broward have their own requirements.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
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Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
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When a permit is usually needed
Before constructing any residential swimming pool or spa
What your pool permit must meet in Florida
Florida residential pools are built under the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), which the Legislature requires to incorporate the safety-feature and barrier standards of the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (Florida Statutes Chapter 515).
- State law requires the Florida Building Code to uniformly implement the pool-safety statutes by including standards for residential swimming pool barriers, pool covers, latching devices, and door and window exit alarms (F.S. 553.73).
- A new residential pool must be built with at least one of five listed safety features, not necessarily a fence: a compliant barrier, an approved safety pool cover, exit alarms on doors and windows with access to the pool, self-closing self-latching doors, or a certified pool alarm (F.S. 515.27).
- If a barrier is used, it must be at least 4 feet high on the outside and may not have gaps, openings, indentations, or structural components that could let a young child crawl under, squeeze through, or climb over it, placed far enough from the water's edge that a child who gets past it does not immediately fall in (F.S. 515.29).
- Pool gates must open outward away from the pool, be self-closing, and have a self-latching device with its release mechanism on the pool side, positioned out of a young child's reach (F.S. 515.29).
- Where a removable mesh safety barrier is used, it must comply with ASTM F2286 and may not be installed on top of an above-ground or on-ground pool (FBC-R, 8th Edition change).
Based on Florida Statutes Chapter 515 (Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, ss. 515.27, 515.29) as implemented by the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Chapter 45. Read the code. Local amendments can be stricter; confirm the current requirement with your office before you build.
What pool permit costs in Broward County
Pool work needs separate Structural, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical permit applications per the county's Swimming Pools procedure, each charged the greater of a $125 minimum base fee or 3.0% of job value under Sections 40.29-40.32 (Ord. 2025-038, eff. 5-1-25).
How Broward County compares in Florida
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Broward Countythis page | Permit required | Not specified |
| Hillsborough County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Lee County | It depends | All in-ground pool construction or renovation requires a permit; an above-ground pool requires a permit when its water depth is 24 inches or more. |
| Miami-Dade County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Orange County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Palm Beach County | It depends | Portable or manufactured pools and spas less than 24 inches deep need no permit; all in-ground pools, larger above-ground pools, and spas require a Building Permit (Type 3(E) for 1 and 2 unit dwellings) plus applicable electrical, plumbing, and pool-barrier sub-permits, and must satisfy Florida's residential pool safety-feature requirements under F.S. 515.27 before final inspection. |
| Pasco County | Permit required | Only residential pool resurfacing is exempt; new pool or spa construction requires a building permit. |
How to apply in Broward County
A residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect.
What most pool permit applications include:
- Pool and spa design and construction fall under the residential code chapter that folds in the swimming pool and spa code, and permit review checks plans against that chapter (IRC R326).
- The site plan must show pool equipment such as pumps, filters, and heaters set back at least 36 inches from the outside of the required barrier (ISPSC 305.2.9).
- For an in-ground pool, engineered structural plans covering the shell and reinforcing steel, with the responsible structural engineer's license information, are a standard part of the submittal (per official pool submittal checklists).
- A barrier plan identifying the fence, pool structure, or dwelling wall that will enclose the pool must be submitted and must comply with the code's barrier chapter (ISPSC 305).
- Electrical plans must show the pool's equipotential bonding design, since the shell, perimeter surfaces, and metal fittings within 5 feet of the water must all tie into a common bonding grid (NEC 680.26).
- The electrical plan must also show a disconnecting means for the pool equipment that is readily accessible and within sight of the equipment (NEC 680.13).
General submittal guidance from 2021 IRC R326 (adopting the ISPSC), ISPSC 2021 Section 305, and NEC 2020 Article 680. Source. Broward County Building Code Division sets the exact checklist for Broward County.
Where to apply in Broward County:
Broward County Building Code Division
- 2307 W Broward Blvd Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
- Phone: (954) 765-4400
- Email: building@broward.org
Inspections and closing out your permit
Pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.
- Before gunite or shotcrete is sprayed, the inspector checks the rebar against the engineered plans and confirms the equipotential bonding wire is stubbed out and tied into the steel, since it will be buried in concrete afterward (NEC 680.26).
- A bonding inspection separately confirms coping, decking, ladders, handrail cups, and any other metal within 5 feet of the water are tied to the bonding grid, and it must pass before coping is installed (NEC 680.26).
- A temporary barrier at least 4 feet high must enclose the site from the moment excavation starts until the permanent barrier is finished, and inspectors check for it throughout construction (ISPSC 305.1.1).
- A pre-plaster inspection confirms the circulation equipment's electrical work is installed and all bonding is complete before the pool's interior finish goes on (NEC 680.26).
- At final inspection the permanent barrier is checked against the code's requirements and the equipment and cover-mechanism bonding must be complete before the pool can be filled and used (ISPSC 305, NEC 680.26).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Broward County permit portal or by phone at (954) 765-4400.
Inspection sequence from NEC 2020 Article 680.26 (equipotential bonding) and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Pool Permit checklist for Broward County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before constructing any residential swimming pool or spa.
- Budget the fee. Pool work needs separate Structural, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical permit applications per the county's Swimming Pools procedure, each charged the greater of a $125 minimum base fee or 3.0% of job value under Sections 40.29-40.32 (Ord. 2025-038, eff. 5-1-25). Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect. Start at the Broward County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Broward County Building Code Division. Phone: (954) 765-4400. Address: 2307 W Broward Blvd Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.
- Plan for inspections. Pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked 2026-06-18.
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Permitting activity in Broward County
In 2024, Broward County authorized permits for 1,655 new residential housing units (697 single-family, 958 in multi-family buildings), valued at $409M, down from3,047 the year before. That works out to about 0.8 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual data · population 2,037,472.
About Broward County
Broward County has about 863,128 housing units. The median home is valued at $380,400, against a median household income of $74,534. About 63% of homes are owner-occupied, and the typical home was built around 1980.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a pool permit in Broward County?
- A building permit is required for all residential pools and spas in unincorporated Broward County. Pools must be enclosed by a fence of at least 5 feet in height or a screen enclosure per Broward County Zoning Code requirements. A Notice of Commencement is required for projects of $2500 or more. Incorporated cities in Broward have their own requirements. Always confirm with the Broward County Building Code Division before starting.
- How much does a pool permit cost in Broward County?
- Pool work needs separate Structural, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical permit applications per the county's Swimming Pools procedure, each charged the greater of a $125 minimum base fee or 3.0% of job value under Sections 40.29-40.32 (Ord. 2025-038, eff. 5-1-25). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a pool permit in Broward County?
- You can apply through the Broward County permit portal or contact the Broward County Building Code Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Broward County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No separate deck fee line; |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Electrical permit is the greater of a $125 minimum base fee or 3.0% of job value, per S... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No separate fence fee line; |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical (air conditioning and ventilation) permit is the greater of a $125 minimum b... |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No separate patio fee line; |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing permit is the greater of a $125 minimum base fee or 3.0% of job value, per Sec... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | under F.S. 553.79(1)(g) (HB 803, ch. 2026-63, effective 2026-07-01), work valued at less than $7,500 on a single-family dwelling qualifies for exemption upon a written exemption request with documentation of the nature and value of the work; the exemption excludes electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, and gas work and any property in a flood hazard area; the statute does not name roofing, so a non-structural reroof under that value can qualify; confirm with Broward County Building Code Division. | Structural permit with a roofing-specific minimum: the greater of a $250 minimum base r... |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No separate shed fee line; |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Not published |
Pool Permit in other Florida localities
Official sources
Verified by a person against the sources above on 2026-06-18, not confirmed with Broward County Building Code Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: 2026-06-18Report an error on this page
Florida rule changes
- Broward County, FL updates building permit fee schedule (Ordinance 2025-038)
Ord. 2025-038 · 2026-07-25
- Florida waives permits for small single-family jobs under $7,500 (HB 803)
ch. 2026-63 (HB 803), F.S. 553.79 · 2026-07-25
Compare
Pool Permit across Florida