Swimming Pools & Spas in Little Rock, AR: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Little Rock or are thinking about moving there, swimming pools & spas are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Little Rock has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of swimming pools & spas, and some of them might surprise you.

Pool Permits

Little Rock treats above-ground and below-grade pools as accessory structures, so they must sit inside the same 60-foot front and 15-foot side-street setbacks as sheds and garages.

Key details: Front setback: 60 feet (R-1–R-4A). Side street setback: 15 feet. Rear yard coverage cap: 30 percent. Plumbing permit fee: $14.42. Drainage: Must connect to storm or sanitary sewer.

Setting up an above-ground pool inside the 60-foot front or 15-foot side-street setback, or draining it onto neighboring property instead of the storm or sanitary sewer, puts the installation out of compliance with the zoning and plumbing code and can draw a stop-work order from the planning or public works staff.

Fencing & Safety Requirements

Little Rock adopts the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code by reference, setting the barrier, drain-cover, and equipment safety standards enforced on every pool built or altered within city limits.

Key details: Governing code: 2021 Int'l Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Citation: Sec. 8-2(a)(11). Pool bonding inspection fee: $18.54. Swimming pool plumbing permit fee: $14.42. Enforcement: Building codes division.

Building without required pool permits or bypassing bonding and plumbing inspections is a Code violation under Sec. 1-9: fines up to $1,000, or $500 per day if the condition continues.

The Bottom Line

Little Rock'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 Little Rock is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Little Rock's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.