Pool Permit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before installing any residential pool except small shallow prefabricated pools meeting both thresholds
Issued byDepartment of Licenses and Inspections
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Philadelphia L&I does not require a permit for prefabricated swimming pools or spas that are both less than 24 inches deep and less than 5,000 gallons. Above-ground and in-ground pools exceeding either threshold require a building permit. An EZ permit is available for qualifying pool and spa installations.
Typical threshold: prefabricated swimming pools or spas less than 24 inches deep AND less than 5000 gallons do not require a permit; all larger pools require a permit.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before installing any residential pool except small shallow prefabricated pools meeting both thresholds
What a pool permit costs in Philadelphia
How Philadelphia compares in Pennsylvania
Closest pool permit thresholds outside Pennsylvania
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Philadelphia's 24 in.
- Austin, Texas, prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep are exempt; all other residential pools require a permit
- Jersey City, New Jersey, permit required for all pools that can hold more than 24 inches of water
- Chandler, Arizona, A prefabricated swimming pool less than 18 inches deep is exempt from a building permit; any pool or spa (in-ground or prefabricated) 18 inches deep or greater requires a permit, and a compliant safety barrier is required regardless of depth once a permit-triggering pool exists.
- Pima County, Arizona, Pre-fabricated residential pools installed entirely above ground require a building permit once they exceed 18 inches in depth and 5,000 gallons; any in-ground or custom-built residential pool or spa requires a building permit through Administrative Review regardless of size.
How to apply in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, 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. Department of Licenses and Inspections sets the exact checklist for Philadelphia.
Where to apply in Philadelphia:
Department of Licenses and Inspections
- 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., MSB, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Phone: (215) 255-4040
Pool Permit in Philadelphia compared with nearby Pennsylvania localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Pennsylvania schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | It depends | prefabricated swimming pools or spas less than 24 inches deep AND less than 5000 gallons do not require a permit; all larger pools require a permit | Flat $69 building permit fee for a pool or spa accessory to a one or two family... | |
| Pittsburgh | It depends | prefabricated pools accessory to a single-family or two-family dwelling that also hold no more than 5,000 gallons and are installed entirely above grade | 2026 PLI Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia permit portal or by phone at (215) 255-4040.
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 Philadelphia
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: prefabricated swimming pools or spas less than 24 inches deep AND less than 5000 gallons do not require a permit; all larger pools require a permit. Usually needed: Before installing any residential pool except small shallow prefabricated pools meeting both thresholds.
- Budget the fee. Flat $69 building permit fee for a pool or spa accessory to a one or two family dwelling, with separate electrical and plumbing permits required, per the L&I construction fee schedule effective 1/1/2025. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Department of Licenses and Inspections. Phone: (215) 255-4040. Address: 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., MSB, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
- Plan for inspections. In Philadelphia, 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 .
Permitting activity in Philadelphia
In 2024, Philadelphia authorized permits for 2,962 new residential housing units (539 single-family, 2,423 in multi-family buildings), valued at $498M, down from 3,863 the year before. That works out to about 1.9 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual data · population 1,578,487.
About Philadelphia
Philadelphia has about 739,725 housing units. The median home is valued at $232,400, against a median household income of $60,698. About 52% of homes are owner-occupied, and the typical home was built around 1949.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a pool permit in Philadelphia?
- Philadelphia L&I does not require a permit for prefabricated swimming pools or spas that are both less than 24 inches deep and less than 5,000 gallons. Above-ground and in-ground pools exceeding either threshold require a building permit. An EZ permit is available for qualifying pool and spa installations. Prefabricated swimming pools or spas less than 24 inches deep AND less than 5000 gallons do not require a permit; all larger pools require a permit. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a pool permit cost in Philadelphia?
- Flat $69 building permit fee for a pool or spa accessory to a one or two family dwelling, with separate electrical and plumbing permits required, per the L&I construction fee schedule effective 1/1/2025. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a pool permit in Philadelphia?
- You can apply through the Philadelphia permit portal or contact the Department of Licenses and Inspections directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in Philadelphia?
- Under Pennsylvania law (34 Pa. Code 403.62(a); Act 132 of 2008 (HICPA), Section 2 (73 P.S. 517.2)): Yes. 34 Pa. Code 403.62(a) provides that 'An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential building or erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by the Uniform Construction Code shall first apply to the building code official and obtain the required permit.' The owner is a permitted applicant. The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (Act 132 of 2008, 73 P.S. 517.1 et seq.) is a registration and consumer-protection law for contractors: its 'Contractor' definition covers a person 'who owns and operates a home improvement business or who undertakes, offers to undertake or agrees to perform any home improvement,' so it governs people doing home improvements for others, not homeowners doing their own work. Pennsylvania has no statewide trade licensing barring homeowner work; trade licensing, where it exists, is municipal. Confirm how Philadelphia applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Philadelphia
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Remodel Permit | It depends | Not specified | Billed as a plumbing alteration permit at $50 for the first 7 fixtures plus $22.50 per... |
| Deck Permit | It depends | residential decks up to 216 sq ft (excluding roof decks) qualify for EZ permit without plans; larger decks require full building permit with plans | New decks fall under the accessory structure and addition bucket at $75 for the first... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | $100 filing fee (nonrefundable) |
| EV Charger Permit | It depends | Not specified | Charged as a standard electrical permit at $25 per $1,000 of estimated cost with a $63... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | permit required if fence exceeds 6 feet tall, is masonry over 2 ft, is on Historic Registry, or is in the 100-year floodplain | Zoning permit $50-$632 by lot size |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | $100 filing fee (nonrefundable) |
| Patio Permit | It depends | concrete or other hard-surface paving on grade (driveways, walkways, patios not used for parking) is exempt; covered or elevated patio structures require a permit, and paving in flood protection areas requires one | No fee |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | $100 filing fee (nonrefundable) |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Flat $69 building permit fee to replace the roof covering on a one or two family... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | detached structures under 200 sq ft for one-or-two-family dwellings do not require a permit | Sheds 120 sq ft or less in the rear yard need no permit |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Flat $200 building permit fee for the solar panel structure plus a separate electrical... |
| Water Heater Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Flat $31 plumbing permit fee to replace a water heater in a one or two family dwelling... |
Pool Permit in other Pennsylvania localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Philadelphia documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this pool permit page for Philadelphia was verified. 2 official sources: phila.gov, phila.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Department of Licenses and Inspections. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Pool Permit requirements across Pennsylvania localities