Swimming Pools & Spas in Colorado (2026)
37 rules on the books across Colorado, 22 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Pool Permits
Building and electrical permits required before installing a pool, including the depth and size thresholds that trigger them, and where above-ground and inflatable pools fall in or out of the rules.
Colorado: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsColorado requires state plan review and permits for public swimming pools through the Department of Public Health…
Read full rule →Adams County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Adams County requires pools and spas to be built under the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa…
Read full rule →Arvada
Some RestrictionsArvada regulates residential pool and spa construction under its adopted International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. A…
Read full rule →Aurora
Some RestrictionsAurora, Colorado requires a building permit for swimming pool construction, including above-ground pools, and a…
Read full rule →Boulder
Some RestrictionsBoulder requires a building permit for most residential swimming pools under the City's adopted building code. Only…
Read full rule →Boulder County
Some RestrictionsA building permit is required to build a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub in unincorporated Boulder County. Any structure…
Read full rule →Centennial
Some RestrictionsEvery residential pool or spa built in Centennial must conform to the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code…
Read full rule →Colorado Springs
Some RestrictionsA building permit from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department is required before installing any in-ground or…
Read full rule →Denver
Some RestrictionsDenver treats residential swimming pools as structures under its adopted Building Code, so construction requires a…
Read full rule →Fort Collins
Some RestrictionsFort Collins requires a permit before building, altering, or repairing any residential swimming pool, spa, or aquatic…
Read full rule →Greeley
Some RestrictionsGreeley exempts prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep from a building permit. Pools 24 inches deep or more fall…
Read full rule →Jefferson County
Some RestrictionsAbove-ground pools are treated the same as in-ground pools in unincorporated Jefferson County: a Miscellaneous Permit…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood requires new pools and spas to be permitted and built under the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code…
Read full rule →Larimer County
Some RestrictionsAbove-ground pools deeper than 24 inches in unincorporated Larimer County still need a barrier. Where the pool is above…
Read full rule →Littleton
Some RestrictionsBuilding a residential pool or spa in Littleton requires a permit under the city's amended 2024 International Swimming…
Read full rule →Longmont
Some RestrictionsBuilding a pool in Longmont requires a permit under the city's adopted International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and…
Read full rule →Loveland
Some RestrictionsLoveland requires a building permit for residential pool and spa construction under its adopted 2021 International…
Read full rule →Manitou Springs
Some RestrictionsManitou Springs enforces pool construction through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Code, adopted by reference in…
Read full rule →Thornton
Some RestrictionsThornton requires a building permit to construct a residential swimming pool, issued under the city's Building Code…
Read full rule →Weld County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Weld County requires a building permit for pool and spa installation under the county's adopted 2018…
Read full rule →Westminster
Some RestrictionsA backyard swimming pool, spa, or hot tub in Westminster needs a building permit before construction starts, per…
Read full rule →Pueblo
Light RestrictionsAn above-ground pool skips Pueblo's building permit only if it's prefabricated, installed entirely above ground, and…
Read full rule →Fencing & Safety Requirements
Mandatory barriers around pools, spas, and hot tubs, minimum heights, self-latching gate specs, and the alarm, cover, and anti-entrapment rules that ride along with them.
Colorado Springs
Heavy RestrictionsOutdoor residential pools and spas in Colorado Springs must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with…
Read full rule →Adams County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Adams County requires a barrier restricting entry to any pool or spa area under Section 305.1 of the…
Read full rule →Aurora
Some RestrictionsAurora requires all swimming pools and spas to meet the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, adopted citywide…
Read full rule →Boulder County
Some RestrictionsA pool, spa, or hot tub in unincorporated Boulder County must be enclosed by a barrier meeting 2021 ISPSC Section 305…
Read full rule →Centennial
Some RestrictionsCentennial adopts the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code by reference as its own Swimming Pool and Spa Code…
Read full rule →Denver
Some RestrictionsDenver requires every public and limited-access swimming pool to meet minimum health and safety standards covering…
Read full rule →Douglas County
Some RestrictionsDouglas County requires every swimming pool in unincorporated areas, including Highlands Ranch, to be enclosed by a…
Read full rule →Jefferson County
Some RestrictionsPublic and semi-public pools in Colorado must submit construction plans to the state health department at least 30 days…
Read full rule →Larimer County
Some RestrictionsPool barrier gates in unincorporated Larimer County must open outward, be self-closing and self-latching. If the latch…
Read full rule →Littleton
Some RestrictionsAny swimming or wading pool deeper than 24 inches in a Littleton residential district must be fully enclosed by a fence…
Read full rule →Longmont
Some RestrictionsLongmont's property maintenance code treats spas, hot tubs, ornamental ponds and other water features the same as…
Read full rule →Manitou Springs
Some RestrictionsEvery outdoor pool in Manitou Springs deeper than one foot needs a fence or wall at least six feet tall under Municipal…
Read full rule →Pueblo
Some RestrictionsPueblo treats hot tubs and spas the same as pools: any unit holding more than 24 inches of water needs a 48-inch…
Read full rule →Weld County
Some RestrictionsColorado's state pool code requires every public and semi-public swimming pool in unincorporated Weld County to sit…
Read full rule →Westminster
Some RestrictionsWestminster amends the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code so a dwelling wall can serve as part of a required pool…
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