Swimming Pools & Spas in Louisiana (2026)
24 rules on the books across Louisiana, 16 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.
Shreveport
Heavy RestrictionsShreveport requires a building permit before installing or altering any swimming pool, and Chapter 22 imposes an…
Read full rule →Ascension Parish
Some RestrictionsA residential swimming pool in unincorporated Ascension Parish needs a building permit unless it is a small…
Read full rule →Bossier City
Some RestrictionsBefore digging a residential pool in Bossier City, owners need a building permit under Code Section 18-39 and must meet…
Read full rule →Bossier Parish
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Bossier Parish, any residential swimming pool other than a prefabricated pool under 24 inches deep…
Read full rule →East Baton Rouge Parish
Some RestrictionsAn above-ground pool wall can serve as the barrier only if its top is at least 48 inches above grade around the whole…
Read full rule →Gretna
Some RestrictionsGretna charges a $100.00 electrical application filing fee for a permanently installed residential swimming pool under…
Read full rule →Jefferson Parish
Some RestrictionsAbove-ground pools in Jefferson Parish must control access. If the pool wall is the barrier, the ladder or steps must…
Read full rule →Lafayette
Some RestrictionsBuilding a pool in Lafayette or unincorporated Lafayette Parish means pulling a permit priced the same as a building…
Read full rule →Lafayette Parish
Some RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish requires a building permit for any new or refurbished swimming pool, including above-ground and…
Read full rule →Lake Charles
Some RestrictionsLake Charles requires a building permit for a residential swimming pool under the general permit rule of Sec. 6-38, but…
Read full rule →New Orleans
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans regulates any above-ground or in-ground pool holding water deeper than 18 inches or covering more than 150…
Read full rule →Ouachita Parish
Some RestrictionsOuachita Parish requires a building permit under § 3½-123(a) before constructing a residential swimming pool in the…
Read full rule →Rapides Parish
Some RestrictionsBuilding a swimming pool in unincorporated Rapides Parish requires a permit from the parish building official under…
Read full rule →Terrebonne Parish
Some RestrictionsA private swimming pool built in Terrebonne Parish requires a building permit, and the parish charges a flat $200 fee…
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.
Jefferson Parish
Heavy RestrictionsWhere a dwelling wall serves as part of the pool barrier, Louisiana's adopted pool code requires added protection: a…
Read full rule →Lafayette
Significant RestrictionsLafayette's pool code does not spell out fence height or gate specs itself. Section 26-532(c) instead adopts the…
Read full rule →New Orleans
Significant RestrictionsNew Orleans requires every pool, defined broadly as any structure holding water deeper than 18 inches or covering more…
Read full rule →Bossier City
Some RestrictionsSec. 46-2 of Bossier City's property maintenance code requires every swimming pool to be kept clean, sanitary, in good…
Read full rule →Caddo Parish
Some RestrictionsAny swimming pool built in unincorporated Caddo Parish must sit inside a fence or wall at least four feet tall, made of…
Read full rule →East Baton Rouge Parish
Some RestrictionsSpas and hot tubs are treated as pools under the adopted ISPSC, so the same barrier and gate rules apply. Glazing in…
Read full rule →Gretna
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Gretna, a swimming pool within 500 feet of residential property that is not enclosed on all sides by a…
Read full rule →Kenner
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Kenner, every accessory swimming pool or open water feature must have a safety fence or barrier approved…
Read full rule →Lafayette Parish
Some RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish requires pool enclosures to meet the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and pool electrical…
Read full rule →Shreveport
Some RestrictionsShreveport treats hot tubs alongside swimming pools. UDC section 7.3.W keeps a private hot tub out of the front yard…
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