Pool Permit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a pool permit in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee permits backyard pools through the DNS Environmental Section rather than the Permit and Development Center, and the requirement turns on size: any pool at least 15 feet by 3 feet or holding 3,965 gallons needs a private pool construction permit, and smaller pools do not, though DNS asks owners to follow the safety guidelines anyway. The department states the same rule on its Environmental Section page as "Backyard Pools (Chapter 75-20): A construction permit is required for swimming pools equal to or greater than 15 ft x 3 ft in size." The application is a paper packet mailed or delivered to the Environmental Section at 841 N. Broadway, Room 105, and it must be accompanied by a sketch showing distances to overhead and underground electrical wires, the lot line, the house, garage, fences, trees and other climbable objects. A licensed electrical contractor must pull the electrical permit first: new pool permits are not issued until the electrical permit has been obtained. Pool at least 15 feet by 3 feet in size or holding 3,965 gallons. Always confirm with the office before starting.

How much does a pool permit cost in Milwaukee?

The DNS Private Pool Instruction Sheet (soc 03/18/25) instructs applicants to "Submit a check for $86.20* for a new pool or $158.40* for an existing pool (non-refundable)", with the footnote "*All fees include a 1.6* training and technology surcharge." Building the pool before the permit issues "may result in an increased fee (up to 4 times the permit fee) and possibly issuance of a citation and/or removal of the pool from the premises.". See the official fee schedule for current amounts.

Where do you apply for a pool permit in Milwaukee?

You can apply through the Milwaukee permit portal or contact the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS), Permit and Development Center directly. The links are listed on this page.

Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in Milwaukee?

Under Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. 101.654(1)(a) and (1)(b); Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.31(1), SPS 320.09(9)(a)2., 3. and 4.; Wis. Stat. 101.65(1m) and (1r); Wis. Stat. 101.862(4)(a); Wis. Stat. 145.06(4)(a)): A Wisconsin homeowner may pull the permit and do the work on their own dwelling. The general rule is that nobody may obtain a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling without a DSPS dwelling contractor certification plus a dwelling contractor qualifier credential, but the statute exempts an owner of a dwelling who resides or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to perform work on that dwelling. Neither the statute nor the implementing rule places any cap on how often that exemption may be used, and Wisconsin has no counterpart to Florida's one-year resale restriction. The trade-off is a disclosure: the permit issuer must have the owner sign a statement warning that if the owner hires a contractor who is not bonded or insured, the owner may be held liable for injury or property damage arising from the work and may be unable to collect damages from that contractor. Trade licensing carries its own homeowner carve-outs, both defeasible by local ordinance: a residential property owner may do electrical wiring on premises the owner owns and occupies as a residence, and a property owner may do plumbing work in a one-family building owned and occupied as the owner's home. Confirm how Milwaukee applies this before you apply.