Swimming Pools & Spas in Columbia, SC (2026)
2 verified swimming pools & spas rules for Columbia, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pool Permits
Building a residential swimming pool in Columbia falls under the general building-permit rule in Sec. 5-201, and the fee schedule in Sec. 5-204(e) names pools directly, requiring an elevation certificate and $50.00 inspection checklist fee for pools built in a flood plain. Every outdoor pool must also carry a code-compliant safety barrier under Sec. 5-1.
Columbia Pools Need Building Permits And Barriers
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 5-204(e)
Structures located within a flood plain. Elevation certificates and an inspection checklist fee of $50.00 shall be required for new construction, additions, renovations, fences, pools, out-buildings, and similar structures.
Fencing & Safety Requirements
Every outdoor swimming pool in Columbia must be fully enclosed by a code-compliant barrier at least 48 inches tall with no more than a two-inch gap beneath it, openings too small to pass a four-inch sphere, and self-latching pool-side gates. Sec. 5-1 spells out exact spacing rules by fence style.
Columbia Swimming Pool Barrier Requirements
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 5-1
(a)All outdoor swimming pools shall be completely enclosed by a barrier meeting the requirements hereinafter specified.(b)The top of the barrier shall be at least 48 inches above grade measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be two inches measured on the side of the barrier whic...
Looking for Richland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Columbia city rules.
Swimming Pools & Spas in Richland County →