Swimming Pools & Spas in St. Louis County, MO (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Verified from official government sources
Pool Permits
Anyone building, enlarging, or altering a residential swimming pool in unincorporated St. Louis County must first obtain a permit from the Department of Transportation and Public Works under the county's Swimming Pool and Spa Code, Chapter 1118, which routes every permit question to the county's own Building Code. Only small prefabricated above-ground pools holding no more than 5,000 gallons at a maximum 24-inch depth skip the permit step entirely.
Residential Pool Permit Rules in St. Louis County
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Code §§ 1115.105.1, 1115.105.2(7), incorporated for pools by § 1118.101 (Ch. 1118)
105.1 Required. Any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or install or alter a ground level paved parking lot other than those lots serving a single-family dwelling, or establish a new or relocated lot line that affects an existing structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, r...
Fencing & Safety Requirements
Every swimming pool and spa in unincorporated St. Louis County needs a code-compliant barrier under Chapter 1118, the county's 2015 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as amended. Residential pools get a reduced 48-inch minimum barrier height, a 3-foot buffer around the perimeter, and a 20-inch minimum setback from the water's edge instead of the general 60-inch rule, with tight limits on the gap beneath the fence.
St. Louis County Pool Barrier Fence Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Code § 1118.103 (2015 ISPSC §§ 305.2.1, 305.2.10, as amended)
305.2.1 Barrier height and clearances. Barrier heights and clearances shall be in accordance with all of the following: 1.The top of the barrier shall be not less than 72 inches (1829 mm) above grade where measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the pool or spa. Such height shall exist around the entire perimeter of the barrier and for a distance of 3 feet (914 mm) measured hor...
Swimming Pools & Spas by City in St. Louis County
1 cities in St. Louis County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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