What's Required in Philadelphia
- No building permit for a prefabricated pool or spa less than 24 in deep and less than 5,000 gallons; no zoning permit for any pool at a 1-2 family home
- Building permit ($69 for 1-2 family, $253 otherwise, plus $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges) for every other pool, spa or hot tub
- Separate electrical permit ($25 per $1,000 of electrical cost, $63 minimum) pulled by a licensed electrical contractor; plumbing permit for permanent water or drain lines
- EZ permit without plans only at an existing one-family dwelling: rear yard, 2 ft from any lot line or structure, not on a deck or roof
- In-ground pools set back from each property line by a distance equal to the pool depth on that side
- One of three barriers: 48 in enclosure with self-closing, self-latching gate; 48 in above-ground pool wall with 48 in ladder barrier; or 48 in yard enclosure with an approved door alarm
- Install per manufacturer's specifications and ANSI/APSP/ICC-5 (in-ground), ANSI/PHTA/ICC-4 (above-ground) or ANSI/APSP/ICC-3 (spas), with entrapment-protected suction outlets
- Above-ground access platform up to 50 sq ft allowed under the EZ permit with a 36 in guard and openings no larger than 4 in
Do You Need a Permit for a Pool in Philadelphia?
Yes for anything you would call a real pool. L&I's building-permit page exempts only prefabricated swimming pools or spas less than 24 inches deep and less than 5,000 gallons. Everything deeper, every in-ground pool, and every spa or hot tub above that size needs a building permit, and the pool's pump, lights and bonding need a separate electrical permit. Zoning is the easy part: the zoning permit page lists swimming pools installed on the property of a one- or two-family dwelling among the things that need no zoning permit. At an existing one-family home you can skip drawings entirely by signing L&I's EZ Pools and Spas standard (PB_010, revised July 2026), which covers above-ground and in-ground pools, spas and hot tubs as long as they sit in the rear yard, at least 2 feet from any property line or structure, and not on a deck or roof.
Philadelphia Pool Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Inflatable or prefab pool under 24 in deep and under 5,000 gallons | None | Building permit page, accessory structures exemption |
| Above-ground pool 48 in deep in the rear yard of a one-family home | EZ building permit ($69 + $7.50) plus electrical permit | EZ Pools and Spas standard; fee summary |
| In-ground pool at a one-family home, rear yard, set back its own depth from lot lines | EZ building permit plus electrical and plumbing permits | EZ standard design limitations |
| Hot tub or spa on the ground in the rear yard | EZ building permit plus electrical permit | EZ standard covers spas and hot tubs |
| Pool or spa on a deck or roof, or in a side yard | Building permit with plans, not EZ | EZ standard conditions |
| Pool at a two-family or larger building | Building permit with plans; $253 fee for non-1-2 family | EZ standard is one-family only; fee summary |
| Access platform up to 50 sq ft on an above-ground pool | Included in the EZ pool permit | EZ standard, 36 in guard with 4 in openings |
How Much Does a Pool Permit Cost in Philadelphia?
The construction fee summary lists swimming pools at $69 for a one- or two-family property ($253 elsewhere). Add the $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges and the building permit is $76.50; the $25 filing fee is applied to that balance. The electrical permit is priced at $25 per $1,000 of estimated electrical construction cost, minimum $63, plus the same surcharges, and it must be pulled by a licensed electrical contractor. A pump circuit and bonding for an above-ground pool priced under $2,520 draws the $63 minimum, so the two permits total $76.50 + $70.50 = $147. An in-ground pool with $8,000 of electrical work (pump, lights, heater circuit, bonding grid) pays $200 + $7.50 for electrical, or $284 in total. Plumbing for a permanent fill or drain line is a third permit; the fee summary prices repairs and new lines by item and the master plumber will quote the line that fits. The owner also hires a licensed electrical inspection agency for the electrical inspections, a cost the city does not set.
Barrier, Setback and Design Rules
The EZ standard gives three barrier options and requires one of them for any pool, spa or hot tub: enclose the pool with a 48-inch barrier and a self-closing, self-latching gate that swings away from the pool; use an above-ground pool's own wall as the barrier if the pool is at least 48 inches deep, with a 48-inch stair or ladder barrier; or enclose the yard with a 48-inch barrier where the house forms one side and its door has an approved alarm. Pools and equipment stay out of the front and side yards and at least 2 feet from any property line or structure; an in-ground pool must also be set back from every lot line by a distance equal to its depth along that line. Installation follows the manufacturer's specifications and ANSI/APSP/ICC-5 (in-ground), ANSI/PHTA/ICC-4 (above-ground) or ANSI/APSP/ICC-3 (spas), with entrapment-protected suction outlets, treated water and no nuisance discharge to neighbors.
Who Files and How Long It Takes
The pool building permit can be applied for by the owner or an agent, and at an existing one- or two-family home the shell can be installed by a licensed Philadelphia contractor, a registered PA Home Improvement Contractor with a Commercial Activity License, or an owner who lives there, but the wiring must be done by a licensed electrical contractor and the plumbing overseen by a licensed master plumber. L&I's processing sheet lists an EZ single-family pool or spa at 5 business days with a $25 filing fee. Historic Registry properties need Historical Commission approval before L&I accepts the application.
How to Get a Pool Permit in Philadelphia
Check the exemption
A prefab pool under 24 in deep and under 5,000 gallons needs no building permit. Anything larger needs a permit, and no zoning permit is required at a one- or two-family home.
Site the pool in the rear yard
Keep the pool and equipment 2 ft from lot lines and structures, off decks and roofs, and set an in-ground pool back its own depth from each lot line.
File the EZ pool permit in eCLIPSE
Upload the signed EZ Pools and Spas standard, pay the $25 filing fee, and expect a decision in about 5 business days; pay the $69 fee plus $7.50 surcharges on approval.
Have the electrician and plumber pull their permits
A licensed electrical contractor files the electrical permit and a licensed electrical inspection agency inspects; a master plumber files any permanent water or drain line.
Build the barrier and call for inspection
Install one of the three approved 48 in barrier options, then request inspections through eCLIPSE or (215) 255-4040 for the Certificate of Approval.