Pool Permit in St. Lucie County, Florida
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before installing an in-ground pool, or a portable/manufactured pool or spa 24 inches deep or more, in unincorporated St. Lucie County
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
In unincorporated St. Lucie County, in-ground pools always require a county building permit, and a portable or manufactured pool or spa needs one too once it reaches 24 inches of water depth. Only portable or manufactured pools and spas under 24 inches deep are exempt. The county also publishes a separate Child Safety Barrier checklist reflecting Florida pool safety barrier requirements. This applies to unincorporated areas only; Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce run their own pool permitting.
Typical threshold: Portable or manufactured pools or spas less than 24 inches deep do not require a permit; in-ground pools, permanent spas, and portable or manufactured pools or spas 24 inches deep or more require a permit.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
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?
When a permit is usually needed
Before installing an in-ground pool, or a portable/manufactured pool or spa 24 inches deep or more, in unincorporated St. Lucie County
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 a pool permit costs in St. Lucie County
How St. Lucie County compares in Florida
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Brevard County | It depends | Permits are issued for in-ground pools and spas, and for above-ground pools with a depth of 24 inches or greater. |
| Broward County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Charlotte County | Permit required | This residential pool/spa permit type includes spas, swim spas, and above-ground pools that are 24 inches or greater in depth. |
| Clay County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Collier County | Permit required | Not specified |
| St. Lucie Countythis page | It depends | Portable or manufactured pools or spas less than 24 inches deep do not require a permit; in-ground pools, permanent spas, and portable or manufactured pools or spas 24 inches deep or more require a permit. |
How to apply in St. Lucie 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. St. Lucie County Building & Permitting Division (Planning and Development Services) sets the exact checklist for St. Lucie County.
Where to apply in St. Lucie County:
St. Lucie County Building & Permitting Division (Planning and Development Services)
- 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34982
- Phone: (772) 462-1553
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 St. Lucie County permit portal or by phone at (772) 462-1553.
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 St. Lucie County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: Portable or manufactured pools or spas less than 24 inches deep do not require a permit; in-ground pools, permanent spas, and portable or manufactured pools or spas 24 inches deep or more require a permit. Usually needed: Before installing an in-ground pool, or a portable/manufactured pool or spa 24 inches deep or more, in unincorporated St. Lucie County.
- 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 St. Lucie County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. St. Lucie County Building & Permitting Division (Planning and Development Services). Phone: (772) 462-1553. Address: 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34982.
- 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 .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a pool permit in St. Lucie County?
- In unincorporated St. Lucie County, in-ground pools always require a county building permit, and a portable or manufactured pool or spa needs one too once it reaches 24 inches of water depth. Only portable or manufactured pools and spas under 24 inches deep are exempt. The county also publishes a separate Child Safety Barrier checklist reflecting Florida pool safety barrier requirements. This applies to unincorporated areas only; Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce run their own pool permitting. Portable or manufactured pools or spas less than 24 inches deep do not require a permit; in-ground pools, permanent spas, and portable or manufactured pools or spas 24 inches deep or more require a permit. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a pool permit cost in St. Lucie County?
- Fees are set by St. Lucie County and are not published here. Contact the office for current amounts.
- How long does a pool permit take in St. Lucie County?
- Minor permits are usually approved within 24 to 48 hours; standard building permits are targeted for issuance within 14 workdays when all required documents are provided. Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for a pool permit in St. Lucie County?
- You can apply through the St. Lucie County permit portal or contact the St. Lucie County Building & Permitting Division (Planning and Development Services) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in St. Lucie County?
- Under Florida law (F.S. 489.103(7)(a)-(c)): Florida lets you pull your own permit as an owner-builder under section 489.103(7), Florida Statutes, which exempts property owners from the contractor licensing law when they act as their own contractor and provide direct, onsite supervision of all work not performed by licensed contractors. The exemption covers building or improving a one-family or two-family residence or a farm outbuilding for your own occupancy or use, and commercial buildings only up to a $75,000 cost, and the property may not be built or improved for sale or lease. If you sell or lease the property within 1 year after completing the work, the law presumes it was built for sale or lease, which violates the exemption. To qualify, you must personally appear and sign the building permit application and sign a state-prescribed disclosure statement acknowledging that you are the party legally and financially responsible for the construction, that you must provide direct, onsite supervision, and that unlicensed people you use must be your own employees, bringing federal tax withholding and workers' compensation obligations. You may not hire an unlicensed person to act as your contractor and may not delegate supervision to anyone who is not licensed for the work being done; if these requirements are violated, the local permitting agency shall withhold final approval, revoke the permit, or pursue unlicensed-activity remedies. A separate narrow branch of the exemption also lets an owner take over and complete a permit on a one-family or two-family residence when the original contractor substantially completed the project. Confirm how St. Lucie County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in St. Lucie County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Minor replacement of existing decking (walking surface only) under $1,000 in value, for 1 and 2 family dwellings, does not require a permit; new deck construction, structural work, or higher-value decking replacement requires a permit. |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Minor repair or exact replacement of an existing permitted fence of up to 2 panels, excluding pool barriers, does not require a permit; installing a new fence, larger repairs, or any pool barrier fence requires a permit. |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Sand-set pavers that are not a pool or spa deck and are not within five feet of a pool do not require a permit, for 1 and 2 family dwellings; pavers used as a pool deck, pavers within five feet of a pool, or other patio construction requires a permit. |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | A permit is required for any reroof work exceeding 25% of the existing roof area within a 12-month period. |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Not specified |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified |
Pool Permit in other Florida localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not St. Lucie County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with St. Lucie County Building & Permitting Division (Planning and Development Services). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Permit office
St. Lucie County Building & Permitting Division (Planning and Development Services)
(772) 462-1553Permit portalFlorida rule changes
- Broward County, FL updates building permit fee schedule (Ordinance 2025-038)
Ord. 2025-038 ·
- Florida waives permits for small single-family jobs under $7,500 (HB 803)
ch. 2026-63 (HB 803), F.S. 553.79 ·
Compare
Pool Permit across Florida