Pool Permit in DeKalb County, Georgia

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a pool permit in DeKalb County?

An in ground or permanent above ground pool needs a DeKalb building permit plus a separate electrical permit, and the building permit only issues after written approval from the DeKalb County Board of Health. Sec. 7-30(d)(1)(F) is the one carve out: prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep installed entirely above ground need no permit. Required inspections run initial environmental, footing, swim basket, electrical rough, electrical final and building final, in that order, and skipping one triggers an immediate stop work order. Prefabricated pools installed entirely above ground. Always confirm with the office before starting.

How much does a pool permit cost in DeKalb County?

Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum Permit Fee; $50 Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion). Some commercial projects require Fire Review & Inspection Fees ($100 Fire Life Safety Review; $100 Fire Site Review; $100 Fire Inspection). Please note that additional fees may apply depending on the type of permit being submitted." DeKalb does not currently publish a full building permit fee schedule online; the fee schedule address printed on the application form no longer resolves to any fee document. The separate electrical permit is priced on the Electrical Permit Application (revised 07/09/2025) at "SWIMMING POOLS NO. AT $50.00", with "Fee Schedule: MINIMUM FEE $120 Additional $200 for Fire Alarm Systems (Fire Review & Inspection Fee)" governing the electrical permit as a whole. Contact the office for current amounts.

Where do you apply for a pool permit in DeKalb County?

You can apply through the DeKalb County permit portal or contact the DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability, Permits, Plan Review and Inspections Division directly. The links are listed on this page.

Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County applies this before you apply.