5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Rutherford County, any swimming pool, hot tub, or spa holding more than 24 inches of water needs a building permit from County Building Codes, and the owner signs a notarized barrier-and-alarm agreement before final inspection.
Rutherford County Building Codes — Residential Swimming Pools
All swimming pools, hot tubs and spas that contain over twenty-four (24) inches of water are required to obtain a building permit.
Every residential pool in unincorporated Rutherford County must be enclosed by a barrier at least four feet high. Tennessee follows the 2018 IRC Appendix G, requiring a 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates and limited ground clearance.
Rutherford County Building Codes — Residential Swimming Pools
All swimming pools require a four (4) foot barrier around the pool.
Tennessee's Katie Beth's Law requires a pool alarm on every residential swimming pool installed after January 1, 2011. The alarm must sound at 50 decibels when a person or 15-pound object enters the water.
T.C.A. § 68-14-804
Each person, enterprise, agency or entity that purchases or acquires a swimming pool to be installed after January 1, 2011, shall install and maintain a pool alarm before using or making available for use such swimming pool.
Tennessee law treats aboveground pools like in-ground pools. Any structure holding water over 36 inches deep, including aboveground and on-ground pools, is a swimming pool subject to the state pool-alarm law and county permitting.
T.C.A. § 68-14-802
"Swimming pool" means any structure that is intended for swimming or recreational bathing and contains water over thirty-six inches (36") deep, including, but not limited to, in-ground, aboveground, and on-ground swimming pools, hot tubs and nonportable spas.
Hot tubs and nonportable spas count as swimming pools under Tennessee law. Those holding over 24 inches of water need a Rutherford County building permit, and units over 36 inches deep require a pool alarm under Katie Beth's Law.
Rutherford County Building Codes — Residential Swimming Pools
All swimming pools, hot tubs and spas that contain over twenty-four (24) inches of water are required to obtain a building permit.
1 cities in Rutherford County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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