Swimming Pools & Spas in Sioux Falls, SD (2026)
5 verified swimming pools & spas rules for Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pool Permits
Sioux Falls requires a building permit issued by Planning & Development Services before constructing, installing, or substantially altering any residential swimming pool, spa, or swim spa capable of holding water more than 24 inches deep. The city has formally adopted the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), effective January 1, 2022, which governs design, construction, alteration, repair, and maintenance city-wide. A separate electrical permit is required for pool bonding/grounding work, and a fence permit (typically $20) is required for the perimeter barrier. Permit applications must include a site plan showing setbacks, the barrier location, and proximity to overhead power lines.
Building Permit Required for In-Ground, Above-Ground, and Swim-Spa Installation
Some RestrictionsFencing Requirements
Every residential pool, spa, or swim spa in Sioux Falls capable of holding water 24 inches or deeper must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches tall measured from the exterior grade. Openings in the barrier must not allow passage of a 4-inch sphere, the barrier must withstand a 220-pound horizontal load, and any pedestrian gate must be self-closing and self-latching with the release mechanism at least 54 inches above the ground (or on the pool side of the gate). These requirements come from Section 305 of the 2021 ISPSC, which Sioux Falls has adopted by reference. There is no state-level alternative — SDCL 34-18A governs public pools only.
Minimum 48-Inch Barrier with Self-Closing, Self-Latching Gate (2021 ISPSC § 305)
Some RestrictionsSafety Rules
Beyond the perimeter barrier, the 2021 ISPSC as adopted by Sioux Falls imposes life-safety requirements that include NEC-compliant electrical bonding and grounding (Article 680), Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act anti-entrapment drain covers, suction-outlet protection on single-drain pools, and either door alarms or an ASTM F1346 powered safety cover when the house wall serves as part of the barrier. A separate electrical permit is required for all pool wiring, and a final electrical inspection must be passed before the pool may be filled and energized. South Dakota has no separate state pool-safety statute for private residences — SDCL 34-18A applies only to public bathing places.
Electrical Bonding, Anti-Entrapment Drain Covers, and Door/Cover Alarms
Some RestrictionsAbove-Ground Pools
Above-ground residential pools in Sioux Falls follow the same 2021 ISPSC requirements as in-ground pools, but with one important practical advantage: under ISPSC § 305.2.10, where an above-ground pool wall is at least 48 inches high, the wall itself may serve as the required barrier. Any ladder or steps providing access must be either removable when the pool is unattended (and stored to prevent re-installation by a child), or surrounded by a secondary barrier meeting all the standard 48-inch / 4-inch / self-closing / self-latching rules. A building permit is still required, the pool must be set back from property lines per zoning, and electrical bonding of the pool shell, ladder, and pump motor must comply with NEC Article 680.
Above-Ground Pools — Wall Can Serve as Barrier If 48 Inches; Ladder Must Be Removable or Lockable
Some RestrictionsHot Tub Rules
Hot tubs and non-swim spas in Sioux Falls fall under the 2021 ISPSC but benefit from a meaningful exception: under ISPSC § 305.6, a hot tub or spa equipped with a lockable safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346 is exempt from the perimeter barrier requirement that would otherwise apply to swimming pools. A building permit is still required for installation if the unit is hard-plumbed or hard-wired (most are), an electrical permit and inspection are required for the 240-volt circuit, and NEC Article 680 bonding still applies. A swim spa or active spa designed to allow swimming is NOT eligible for this exception and is regulated as a full swimming pool.
Hot Tubs and Non-Swim Spas — Lockable ASTM F1346 Cover Substitutes for Perimeter Fence
Few RestrictionsLooking for Minnehaha County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sioux Falls city rules.
Swimming Pools & Spas in Minnehaha County →