Pool Permit in Arlington County, Virginia
By Mario Bailey Last checked 2026-07-19 · 3 official sources
Verified against official sources Confirmed on official pageIt depends
Quick answer
Arlington County states that residential pools require both a Residential Building Permit and trade permits, submitted through Permit Arlington. The statewide building code exempts only small pools with a surface area of 150 square feet or less and a depth under 24 inches. Communal pools, such as those serving a condominium, are commercial projects with health review. A fence serving as the pool barrier always requires an inspection.
Typical threshold: Under USBC 108.2 a swimming pool is exempt only when its surface area is not greater than 150 square feet and it is less than 24 inches deep; otherwise building and trade permits are required.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
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When a permit is usually needed
Pool over 150 square feet or 24 inches or more deep
What your pool permit must meet in Virginia
Virginia's 2021 Uniform Statewide Building Code makes the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code the governing construction standard for swimming pools statewide, and a companion Virginia Residential Code amendment adds its own glazing-safety rule for pools, spas, and hot tubs at one- and two-family homes.
- Virginia's building code incorporates the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) by reference as an enforceable statewide standard (13VAC5-63, referenced standards).
- Swimming pools, swimming pool enclosures, and aquatic recreational facilities must comply with the applicable provisions of the ISPSC under Virginia's amendment to the model building code (13VAC5-63-336, Section 3109.1).
- A Virginia-specific residential amendment requires safety glazing within 60 inches of the water's edge of a hot tub, spa, or indoor or outdoor swimming pool, treating that zone as a hazardous glazing location (VRC R308.4.5, 13VAC5-63-210).
Based on 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 13VAC5-63-336 (Section 3109.1) and 13VAC5-63-210 (VRC R308.4.5), incorporating the 2021 ISPSC. Read the code. Local amendments can be stricter; confirm the current requirement with your office before you build.
What pool permit costs in Arlington County
Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule; paid online through Permit Arlington (eCheck free, cards 2.35 percent fee).
How Arlington County compares in Virginia
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington Countythis page | It depends | Under USBC 108.2 a swimming pool is exempt only when its surface area is not greater than 150 square feet and it is less than 24 inches deep; otherwise building and trade permits are required. |
| Chesterfield County | It depends | pools, hot tubs, or spas (permanent or storable) greater than 150 sq ft surface area, 5,000 gallons capacity, and more than 24 inches deep require a building permit; smaller or shallower pools are exempt |
| Culpeper County | It depends | over 150 sq ft surface area or 24 inches or more in depth |
| Fairfax County | It depends | pool over 150 sq ft surface area, over 5000 gallons, or over 24 inches deep requires a building permit |
| Fauquier County | It depends | over 150 sq ft surface area or 5000 or more gallons or more than 24 inches in depth |
| Henrico County | It depends | pools, hot tubs, or spas with a surface area greater than 150 sq ft, more than 5,000 gallons, or 24 inches or more deep require a building permit; smaller and shallower pools are exempt |
| Orange County | It depends | pools over 150 sq ft of surface area or 24 inches or more in depth require a building permit; smaller, shallower pools are exempt |
How to apply in Arlington 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).
- 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).
- 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).
- 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 Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division sets the exact checklist for Arlington County.
Where to apply in Arlington County:
Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division
- Permit Arlington Center, First Floor, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
- Phone: 703-228-3800
Inspections and closing out your permit
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.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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).
- 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).
- 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 Arlington County permit portal or by phone at 703-228-3800.
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 Arlington County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: Under USBC 108.2 a swimming pool is exempt only when its surface area is not greater than 150 square feet and it is less than 24 inches deep; otherwise building and trade permits are required. Usually needed: Pool over 150 square feet or 24 inches or more deep.
- Budget the fee. Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule; paid online through Permit Arlington (eCheck free, cards 2.35 percent fee). Official fee schedule.
- Apply. 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 Arlington County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division. Phone: 703-228-3800. Address: Permit Arlington Center, First Floor, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201.
- Plan for inspections. 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 2026-07-19.
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Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a pool permit in Arlington County?
- Arlington County states that residential pools require both a Residential Building Permit and trade permits, submitted through Permit Arlington. The statewide building code exempts only small pools with a surface area of 150 square feet or less and a depth under 24 inches. Communal pools, such as those serving a condominium, are commercial projects with health review. A fence serving as the pool barrier always requires an inspection. Under USBC 108.2 a swimming pool is exempt only when its surface area is not greater than 150 square feet and it is less than 24 inches deep; otherwise building and trade permits are required. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a pool permit cost in Arlington County?
- Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule; paid online through Permit Arlington (eCheck free, cards 2.35 percent fee). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a pool permit in Arlington County?
- You can apply through the Arlington County permit portal or contact the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in Arlington County?
- Under Virginia law (Va. Code 54.1-1101(A); 13VAC5-63-80 (USBC Sections 108.3, 108.4)): Yes. Va. Code 54.1-1101(A) exempts any person who performs or supervises construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by them and for their own use during any 24-month period. The exemption covers the whole licensing chapter, including tradesman licensing for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, so it reaches trade work on the owner's own primary residence. Under the USBC the permit applicant may be the owner or the owner's agent, and an applicant may file a written statement that they are not subject to licensure instead of proof of license. Limits: one primary residence per 24 months, for the owner's own use; rental and investment property work is not covered. Confirm how Arlington County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Arlington 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 | No size exemption is published for decks; new decks and deck modifications are treated as additions requiring a Residential Building Permit. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule; |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Like for like replacement of switches, receptacles, lighting fixtures and similar elements of the same type, size and location is exempt unless located in plenums or penetrating fire rated or smoke protected construction. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule; |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Arlington requires a fence permit for any new or replacement fence not part of a larger permitted project; the state building code exempts fences from a building permit unless they serve as a swimming pool barrier or are required for pedestrian safety. | Fees per FY27 Planning and Zoning fee schedule; |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Replacement of mechanical equipment of the same type, size and location is exempt unless the equipment is fueled by gas, in which case a Plumbing/Gas Permit is required; outdoor equipment locations still need zoning approval. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule; |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Arlington lists no patio building permit type; a Land Disturbing Activity/Stormwater permit is required when total land disturbance equals or exceeds 2,500 square feet. | LDA/SWM fees per FY27 DES fee schedule; |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Replacement of fixtures, appliances or piping of the same type, size and location on equipment not fueled by gas is exempt; work on gas fueled equipment always requires a permit and inspections. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule plus DES drainage fixture unit fees where applicable; |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Replacing roof covering alone or with less than 256 square feet of roof decking replaced needs no permit; replacing more than 256 square feet of decking requires a building permit, and decking originally required to be fire retardant treated always requires a permit. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule; |
| Shed Permit | It depends | One story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures are exempt from a building permit when the building area does not exceed 256 square feet. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule; |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Residential solar electric systems require both an electrical permit and a building permit; no size exemption is published. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule; |
Pool Permit in other Virginia localities
Official sources
- https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Building/Permits/Residential
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title13/agency5/chapter63/section80/
- https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Building/Permits/Fence-Retaining-Wall
- https://www.bountifulutah.gov/file/ee478521-f791-4cee-a755-2d923ff70257
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title13/agency5/chapter63/section336/
Verified by a person against the sources above on 2026-07-19, not confirmed with Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: 2026-07-19Report an error on this page
Permit office
Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division
703-228-3800Permit portalCompare
Pool Permit across Virginia