Pool Permit in Cobb County, Georgia
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before constructing any in-ground or above-ground residential pool or spa
Issued byCobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Cobb County states directly that all in-ground and above-ground pools in unincorporated Cobb County are required to be permitted and inspected, with no exemption for small or prefabricated pools. As of January 2026, pool contractors must hold a valid Georgia General Contractor's License or a recognized pool builder certification such as the Certified Pool Builder credential. Permit packages, including a signed Pool and Barrier Application and a notarized Pool and Spa Code Contractor Affidavit, are submitted by email to PoolPermits@cobbcounty.gov.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before constructing any in-ground or above-ground residential pool or spa
What a pool permit costs in Cobb County
How Cobb County compares in Georgia
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Permit required | Any size |
| Cobb Countythis page | Permit required | Any size |
| DeKalb County | It depends | prefabricated pools installed entirely above ground |
| Gwinnett County | It depends | prefabricated pools installed entirely above ground that also hold no more than 5,000 gallons |
How to apply in Cobb County
In Cobb 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).
- For Cobb County, 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).
- For Cobb County, 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).
- For Cobb County, 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. Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division sets the exact checklist for Cobb County.
Where to apply in Cobb County:
Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division
- 1150 Powder Springs St, Ste 400, Marietta, GA 30064
- Phone: (770) 528-2060
- Email: building@cobbcounty.gov
Pool Permit in Cobb County compared with nearby Georgia localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Georgia schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | Permit required | Any size | Pool permits carry a $250 minimum fee under the Cobb County Building Permit Fee Schedule... | |
| Atlanta | Permit required | Any size | Not published | |
| DeKalb County | It depends | prefabricated pools installed entirely above ground | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... | |
| Gwinnett County | It depends | prefabricated pools installed entirely above ground that also hold no more than 5,000 gallons | ..."Regulatory Requirements for Residential Permits" still prices this work at "$0.006... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Cobb County, 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.
- In Cobb County: 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).
- In Cobb County: 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).
- In Cobb County: 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).
- In Cobb County: 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).
- In Cobb County: 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 Cobb County permit portal or by phone at (770) 528-2060.
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 Cobb County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before constructing any in-ground or above-ground residential pool or spa.
- Budget the fee. Pool permits carry a $250 minimum fee under the Cobb County Building Permit Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2024, plus the $100 site plan review fee and $15 technology fee that apply across permit types. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Cobb 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. Start at the Cobb County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division. Phone: (770) 528-2060. Address: 1150 Powder Springs St, Ste 400, Marietta, GA 30064.
- Plan for inspections. In Cobb County, 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 Cobb County?
- Cobb County states directly that all in-ground and above-ground pools in unincorporated Cobb County are required to be permitted and inspected, with no exemption for small or prefabricated pools. As of January 2026, pool contractors must hold a valid Georgia General Contractor's License or a recognized pool builder certification such as the Certified Pool Builder credential. Permit packages, including a signed Pool and Barrier Application and a notarized Pool and Spa Code Contractor Affidavit, are submitted by email to PoolPermits@cobbcounty.gov. Always confirm with the Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division before starting.
- How much does a pool permit cost in Cobb County?
- Pool permits carry a $250 minimum fee under the Cobb County Building Permit Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2024, plus the $100 site plan review fee and $15 technology fee that apply across permit types. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a pool permit in Cobb County?
- You can apply through the Cobb County permit portal or contact the Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in Cobb County?
- Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h); O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(d); O.C.G.A. 43-14-14): Georgia's contractor licensing law has a true owner builder exemption at O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h), not 43-41-17(b). A property owner may construct a building on land the owner owns and act as his or her own contractor, personally providing direct supervision and management, but only if the finished building is intended solely for occupancy by the owner and the owner's family, firm, or corporation, is not for use by the general public, and is not offered for sale or lease. If the owner sold or transferred a self-built structure within the prior 24 months, measured from that structure's certificate of occupancy, the law presumes the new project was not really for personal occupancy and the exemption is unavailable without a license. The owner may not delegate supervision to any unlicensed person, and all work must still comply with county or municipal permitting and inspection requirements. For trade work, O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(d) separately allows an individual to install, alter, or repair plumbing, heating and air conditioning fixtures, and electrical or low-voltage wiring in a residential dwelling the individual owns or occupies, again in conformity with the codes and any local permit and inspection rules. Unlicensed trade work outside these exemptions is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or six months imprisonment or both (O.C.G.A. 43-14-14). Confirm how Cobb County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Cobb County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
None of the 6 project types verified for Cobb County carry a size or scope threshold. See the Permit needed column for each project's own answer, since there is no threshold to compare here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Decks are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to the tiered residential... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Electrical work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the Cobb County Building Permit... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | HVAC and mechanical work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the Cobb County Building... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Plumbing work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the Cobb County Building Permit Fee... |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Accessory structures are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to the... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Fee follows the small residential construction cost table, $80 base for cost up to... |
Pool Permit in other Georgia localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Cobb County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this pool permit page for Cobb County was verified. 3 official sources: cobbcounty.gov, assets.cobbcounty.gov, assets.cobbcounty.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page