Saint Paul's Swimming Pools & Spas: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles swimming pools & spas a little differently. In Saint Paul, Minnesota, 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.

Fencing & Safety Requirements

Any pool open to the public, members, apartment residents, or hotel guests in Saint Paul needs a Sec. 360.01 public-pool license before it can operate. Sec. 360.04 requires the Minnesota Department of Health and the city building official to approve construction plans first, and Sec. 360.05 locks every public pool into the state's Minn. Stat. § 144.1222 and Minn. Rules ch. 4717 pool code.

Key details: License required: before operating any public pool. Plan review: MDH + city building official, both required. Governing pool code: Minn. Rules ch. 4717. Governing statute: Minn. Stat. § 144.1222. License transferability: not transferable (Sec. 360.08).

Operating a public pool without a Sec. 360.01 license, transferring a license in violation of Sec. 360.08, starting construction before MDH and the building official approve plans under Sec. 360.04, or refusing a Sec. 360.07 inspection all violate Chapter 360. The department of safety and inspections can deny, refuse to reissue, or revoke a license for noncompliance, on top of any misdemeanor penalty under the Legislative Code's general provisions.

Pool Permits

Building a residential swimming pool in Saint Paul requires a building permit from the building official under Section 33.03(a), plus a separate electrical permit, Section 33.04 sets a flat $85 fee for swimming pools plus a circuit charge, before any pool wiring or construction can begin.

Key details: Building permit: required before pool construction. Electrical permit: separate permit required for pool circuits. Electrical fee: $85 plus circuit charge. Building permit fee: starts at $36 for first $500 value. Late-start penalty: fee doubled if work begins early.

Constructing a swimming pool without first obtaining the building permit and electrical permit required by Section 33.03 is a Legislative Code violation; Section 33.04(a) requires the specified fee plus an equal penalty fee where work starts before the permit issues, and separately, any violation of Chapter 33 is a misdemeanor under Section 61.901, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or 90 days imprisonment under Section 1.05.

The Bottom Line

Saint Paul'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 Saint Paul is broadly strict or permissive.

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