Pool Permit in Williamson County, Tennessee
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before constructing or installing any swimming pool designed to hold more than 30 inches of water in the unincorporated county
Issued byWilliamson County Building Codes Department
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Williamson County's Swimming Pools brochure defines a non-exempt pool as one, whether above or below grade, designed and installed to hold water more than 30 inches deep to be used for recreational purposes (Zoning Ordinance Section 23.04), and states such pools require a building permit and must meet zoning requirements. Temporary pools, pools 30 inches deep or less, above-ground pools without a permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round do not require a permit. Pools must be fenced per Zoning Ordinance Section 11.04(D)(13): a self-latching, self-closing 4-foot fence with no more than 4 inches of clearance from grade and no openings large enough to pass a 4-inch sphere, or an equivalent above-ground pool wall or step-removal configuration. State law (T.C.A. 68-14-804) also requires a pool alarm before the pool is filled with water.
Typical threshold: Swimming pools designed or able to hold water more than 30 inches deep in unincorporated Williamson County require a building permit; pools designed to hold 30 inches of water or less, temporary pools, above-ground pools with no permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round are exempt from the permit requirement.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before constructing or installing any swimming pool designed to hold more than 30 inches of water in the unincorporated county
What a pool permit costs in Williamson County
How Williamson County compares in Tennessee
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis | It depends | prefabricated swimming pools, measured by the depth of the pool |
| Nashville | Permit required | Not specified |
| Williamson Countythis page | It depends | Swimming pools designed or able to hold water more than 30 inches deep in unincorporated Williamson County require a building permit; pools designed to hold 30 inches of water or less, temporary pools, above-ground pools with no permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round are exempt from the permit requirement. |
Closest pool permit thresholds outside Tennessee
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Williamson County's 30 inches.
- Bellevue, Washington, swimming pools over 24 inches deep require a permit with plan review; above-ground pools 24 inches or less may be exempt
- Brevard County, Florida, Permits are issued for in-ground pools and spas, and for above-ground pools with a depth of 24 inches or greater.
- Charlotte County, Florida, This residential pool/spa permit type includes spas, swim spas, and above-ground pools that are 24 inches or greater in depth.
- Hernando County, Florida, Manufactured pools less than 24 inches deep are exempt from a building permit
How to apply in Williamson County
In Williamson 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 Williamson 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 Williamson 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 Williamson 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. Williamson County Building Codes Department sets the exact checklist for Williamson County.
Where to apply in Williamson County:
Williamson County Building Codes Department
- 1320 West Main Street, Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37064
- Phone: 615-790-5718
Pool Permit in Williamson County compared with nearby Tennessee localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Tennessee schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson County | It depends | Swimming pools designed or able to hold water more than 30 inches deep in unincorporated Williamson County require a building permit; pools designed to hold 30 inches of water or less, temporary pools, above-ground pools with no permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round are exempt from the permit requirement. | No pool-specific line | |
| Memphis | It depends | prefabricated swimming pools, measured by the depth of the pool | POOL OR RETAINING WALL $5.00/1,000 (NO MAX) with a $70.00 minimum, per the 2022 Fee... | |
| Nashville | Permit required | Not specified | Billed as a residential building permit at $5 per $1,000 of valuation plus a $25 zoning... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Williamson 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 Williamson 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 Williamson 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 Williamson 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 Williamson 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 Williamson 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 Williamson County permit portal or by phone at 615-790-5718.
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 Williamson County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: Swimming pools designed or able to hold water more than 30 inches deep in unincorporated Williamson County require a building permit; pools designed to hold 30 inches of water or less, temporary pools, above-ground pools with no permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round are exempt from the permit requirement. Usually needed: Before constructing or installing any swimming pool designed to hold more than 30 inches of water in the unincorporated county.
- Budget the fee. No pool-specific line; billed under the Section B101 valuation table, for example $260 for the first $50,000 of value plus $4 per additional thousand up to $100,000, plus a plan-check fee of half the permit fee, per the county Schedule of Building Permit Fees. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Williamson 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 Williamson County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Williamson County Building Codes Department. Phone: 615-790-5718. Address: 1320 West Main Street, Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37064.
- Plan for inspections. In Williamson 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 Williamson County?
- Williamson County's Swimming Pools brochure defines a non-exempt pool as one, whether above or below grade, designed and installed to hold water more than 30 inches deep to be used for recreational purposes (Zoning Ordinance Section 23.04), and states such pools require a building permit and must meet zoning requirements. Temporary pools, pools 30 inches deep or less, above-ground pools without a permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round do not require a permit. Pools must be fenced per Zoning Ordinance Section 11.04(D)(13): a self-latching, self-closing 4-foot fence with no more than 4 inches of clearance from grade and no openings large enough to pass a 4-inch sphere, or an equivalent above-ground pool wall or step-removal configuration. State law (T.C.A. 68-14-804) also requires a pool alarm before the pool is filled with water. Swimming pools designed or able to hold water more than 30 inches deep in unincorporated Williamson County require a building permit; pools designed to hold 30 inches of water or less, temporary pools, above-ground pools with no permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round are exempt from the permit requirement. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a pool permit cost in Williamson County?
- No pool-specific line; billed under the Section B101 valuation table, for example $260 for the first $50,000 of value plus $4 per additional thousand up to $100,000, plus a plan-check fee of half the permit fee, per the county Schedule of Building Permit Fees. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a pool permit in Williamson County?
- You can apply through the Williamson County permit portal or contact the Williamson County Building Codes Department directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in Williamson County?
- Under Tennessee law (T.C.A. 62-6-103; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-23-.01(1)(i), -.05(3), -.05(4)(b)2.; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-01-.05(2)(a)): Tennessee lets a homeowner act as their own builder. Under T.C.A. 62-6-103, as the State Fire Marshal's Office explains it, an owner may construct a single residence once every two years for personal use without a contractor's license, so long as the home is not for resale, lease, or rent, and anyone the homeowner hires whose portion of the work is $25,000 or more must be a licensed contractor. In state permit areas the owner pulls a property owner's permit, limited by rule to one per 24 month period, and the work is subject to the same inspections and fees as a contractor's job; proof of licensure is waived at permit purchase only when the owner personally performs the work. For electrical work, a homeowner may wire their own residence only after obtaining a residential property owner's electrical permit, which covers only the applicant and immediate family, does not authorize help from anyone unlicensed, and is limited to one per 12 month period unless the owner lost the home to fire or windstorm. Confirm how Williamson County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Williamson County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Deck permits follow the county's general building permit valuation table: no fee for... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | State-issued via the TN CORE system: a $5 issuing fee plus ampere-based inspection fees... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule: $10.00 permit fee plus $10.00 for the first $1,000 of... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule: $10.00 for issuing each permit, plus $5.00 for water and... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | No permit or fee |
Pool Permit in other Tennessee localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Williamson County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this pool permit page for Williamson County was verified. 2 official sources: williamsoncounty-tn.gov, williamsoncounty-tn.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Williamson County Building Codes Department. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Pool Permit requirements across Tennessee localities
Tennessee rule changes
- Metro Nashville posts a current codes fee schedule, replacing the 2010 sheet
BL2022-1215 (Metro Fee Schedule Legislation) ·