Joliet's Swimming Pools & Spas: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles swimming pools & spas a little differently. In Joliet, Illinois, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Pool Permits

Joliet requires a building permit from the city building inspector before anyone erects or constructs a family swimming pool, with the fee set by the valuation of the pool and fence. Portable pools need a permit too, but the city waives the fee for those.

Key details: Permit issuer: City building inspector. Permanent pool fee: Based on pool and fence valuation. Portable pool fee: None. Fence height minimum: 4 feet. Fence contract proof: Required before permit issues.

A pool built or erected without the required permit, or without the section 8-482 fence, is operated unlawfully. Sec. 8-487 lets the city shut off the water supply to the property after giving ten days' written notice of the violation and the owner's failure to correct it. Owners who already had a pool when the article took effect got a 30-day grace period under Sec. 8-486 to install the required fence before enforcement applied.

Fencing & Safety Requirements

Joliet requires a fence or wall at least four feet tall around any family or portable swimming pool, or around the whole lot where it sits, built to keep children out from public areas or neighboring yards, under § 8-482. A permit and proof of the fencing contract come first.

Key details: Fence height: At least 4 feet, § 8-482. Yard restriction: No pools in front/corner side yards. Permit: Required from building inspector, § 8-484. Fence proof: Fencing contract required before permit issues. Portable pool fee: None, but a permit is still required.

Installing a family or portable pool without the required four-foot fence, or without first obtaining the building permit under § 8-484, exposes the owner to the general code penalty in § 1-8 of $150 to $750 per offense, with each day the pool remains unenclosed a separate violation, plus the building inspector can withhold the permit until proof of a fencing contract is on file under § 8-483.

The Bottom Line

Joliet's swimming pools & spas rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Joliet is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Joliet can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.