Swimming Pools & Spas in Birmingham, AL (2026)
2 verified swimming pools & spas rules for Birmingham, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pool Permits
Birmingham does not require a building permit to construct a residential swimming pool, but the applicant must submit a site plan and obtain Zoning approval before starting work, and separate electrical and plumbing permits (with inspections) are mandatory. Public pools have a far stricter process: the Jefferson County Board of Health requires engineer-stamped plans, a permit to construct, and an operational permit before a pool may open.
No building permit for pools; zoning sign-off required
Some RestrictionsCity of Birmingham 2024 Technical Code (Ordinance 15-164), Sec. 103.1.1, Exception item 13
EXCEPTION: Permits shall not be required for the following work except as noted herein: ... 13. Building permits for swimming pools are not required; Applicant shall provide a site plan and obtain approval from Zoning before starting work. Electrical and plumbing permits and associated inspections are required.
Fencing & Safety Requirements
Public, apartment, and condominium pools in Birmingham must be maintained to Jefferson County Board of Health standards: a minimum free available chlorine residual of 1.5 ppm tested at least three times daily, pH kept between 7.2 and 7.8 and tested at least twice daily, and water clear enough that a marked disc is visible through 15 feet of water. Private residential pools are not subject to this health-department monitoring but must keep their safety barriers and self-latching gates compliant.
Public pools: daily chlorine, pH, and clarity standards
Heavy RestrictionsJefferson County Department of Health, Rules and Regulations Governing the Design, Construction, and Operation of Public Swimming Pools and Spas, Chapter 1 (Operation - Chlorine Residual and pH)
Chlorine Residual. A chlorine residual test shall be made at least three (3) times daily. At all times the pool is in operation the water shall have a minimum free available chlorine residual at any point in the pools as follows: Unstabilized - 1.5 ppm. pH. The normal pH or measure of hydrogen-ion content at no time shall be below 7.2 and should be maintained between this limit and 7.8 on the p...
Looking for Jefferson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Birmingham city rules.
Swimming Pools & Spas in Jefferson County →