Pool Permit in Greensboro, North Carolina

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a pool permit in Greensboro?

A residential swimming pool in Greensboro needs a building permit. The city's rule is that a permit is required any time you cover new ground and pool is one of the five examples it names, and the Residential Plan Review page then puts pools on the full-plans track alongside in-law units, pool houses, studios and sunroom additions. A separate electrical permit is required for the pool, priced as its own line item on the electrical fee schedule. Zoning adds limits under Land Development Ordinance 30-8-11.9: on a single-family or two-family lot under one acre the pool must sit behind the principal structure, no closer than 5 feet to any property line measured from the edge of water, and at least 5 feet from any other structure or pool, with barrier fencing referred out to the North Carolina State Building Code. Always confirm with the City of Greensboro Engineering and Inspections Department, Development Services Division (Building Inspections) before starting.

How much does a pool permit cost in Greensboro?

Building Permit Fee Schedule, Document #1005 dated 12/19/24: 'Minimum permit fee - $85'. The residential Alt/Add column charges the $85.00 minimum on construction values up to $11,000 and rises above that ($88.00 at $12,000, $127.00 at $25,000, $302.00 at $100,000, then '$100,000 - 500,000 = $302.00 PLUS $2.00 PER $1,000'). 'STATE LICENSED CONTRACTORS: Add $10.00 to all Residential Permits'. 'DOUBLE PERMIT FEE: BUILDING PERMIT FEES WILL BE DOUBLED IF WORK IS BEGUN BEFORE SECURING A PERMIT'. The department page adds that 'The minimum permit fee for building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits has increased from $75 to $85.' Electrical Permit Fee Schedule, Document #4100 dated 7/16/24: 'Residential Swimming Pool 65.00 ea.', with 'Minimum Permit Fee 85.00' and 'Extra Inspection Fee, First Follow-up 45.00'. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.

How long does a pool permit take in Greensboro?

Ten to 14 business days for the full residential plan review track, depending on Planning Department approval of the site plan. Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.

Where do you apply for a pool permit in Greensboro?

You can apply through the Greensboro permit portal or contact the City of Greensboro Engineering and Inspections Department, Development Services Division (Building Inspections) directly. The links are listed on this page.

Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in Greensboro?

Under North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-1(a), 87-1(b)(2), 87-14(a)(1), 160D-1113, 160D-1115): A North Carolina homeowner may pull the permit and do the work. G.S. 87-1(a) reaches general contracting only where the cost of the undertaking is $40,000 or more, and G.S. 87-1(b)(2) then exempts a person who constructs or alters a building on land that person owns, provided the building is intended solely for occupancy by that person and his family after completion and the person complies with G.S. 87-14. There is no outright ban on selling, but there is a look-back that works like one: if the building is not occupied solely by the person and his family for at least 12 months following completion, the statute presumes the person did not intend the building solely for that occupancy, which defeats the exemption. G.S. 87-14(a)(1) requires an owner claiming the exemption to execute a verified affidavit attesting that they own the property, that they will personally superintend and manage all aspects of the construction and will not delegate that duty to anyone unlicensed, and that they will be personally present for all inspections required by the State Building Code unless a licensed architect sealed the plans. The inspector transmits that affidavit to the Licensing Board, and if the Board determines the exemption was not available the building permit is revoked under G.S. 160D-1115. The exemption removes the general contractor license requirement only. It does not exempt the work from permits or inspections, and G.S. 160D-1113 provides that when a permit is held by an owner exempt under 87-1(b)(2), no inspection may be conducted without the owner present unless an architect sealed the plans. Confirm how Greensboro applies this before you apply.