Swimming Pools & Spas in Maryland (2026)
25 rules on the books across Maryland, 14 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.
Annapolis
Some RestrictionsAnnapolis strikes the standard code exemption for small pools: § 17.12.021 replaces the adopted Swimming Pool and Spa…
Read full rule →Anne Arundel County
Some RestrictionsAnne Arundel County requires a Construction Code permit before building a residential swimming pool, unless the pool is…
Read full rule →Baltimore County
Some RestrictionsAbove-ground pools in Baltimore County need a building permit when over 250 square feet with water 24 inches or more…
Read full rule →Carroll County
Some RestrictionsCarroll County only exempts small 'storable' pools, those 42 inches deep or less with non-metallic or inflatable walls…
Read full rule →Cecil County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Cecil County requires a building permit before you install a residential swimming pool or spa, and any…
Read full rule →Charles County
Some RestrictionsCharles County requires a $110 swimming pool permit from the Health Department and enforces the 2021 International…
Read full rule →Frederick
Some RestrictionsFrederick requires a plumbing permit before constructing a swimming pool, grouping pools with water and sewer taps…
Read full rule →Gaithersburg
Some RestrictionsEvery pool, spa, or hot tub built in Gaithersburg needs a permit under the City's adopted 2021 International Swimming…
Read full rule →Harford County
Some RestrictionsHarford County requires a building permit for residential pools under the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa…
Read full rule →Howard County
Some RestrictionsHoward County adopts the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as its own Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and it…
Read full rule →Montgomery County
Some RestrictionsMontgomery County requires a building permit before constructing or substantially altering a private swimming pool, and…
Read full rule →Prince Georges County
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County requires a DPIE building permit to construct almost any residential swimming pool. Section 4-244…
Read full rule →Rockville
Some RestrictionsRockville's amended residential building code exempts only prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep from a building…
Read full rule →Wicomico County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Wicomico County, building a residential swimming pool requires a permit from the Chief Building…
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.
Baltimore County
Heavy RestrictionsWhere a dwelling wall forms part of the pool barrier, Baltimore County requires doors with direct pool access to have a…
Read full rule →Annapolis
Some RestrictionsAnnapolis treats backyard hot tubs and spas as swimming pools under Chapter 10.28: a private, family-only hot tub needs…
Read full rule →Anne Arundel County
Some RestrictionsPublic and semi-public pools in Anne Arundel County must staff lifeguards on a set ratio to swimmers and keep an AED…
Read full rule →Carroll County
Some RestrictionsCarroll County adopts the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2021 Edition, and locally rewrites its barrier…
Read full rule →Cecil County
Some RestrictionsCecil County's swimming pool code sets minimum barrier heights for every pool and spa in the unincorporated county…
Read full rule →Charles County
Some RestrictionsCharles County amends the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code to tighten what counts as a pool barrier…
Read full rule →Gaithersburg
Some RestrictionsGaithersburg raises the model pool barrier standard: new pool enclosures under the amended 2021 International Swimming…
Read full rule →Howard County
Some RestrictionsHoward County adopted the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as part of its Building Code, requiring a…
Read full rule →Montgomery County
Some RestrictionsMontgomery County requires every private outdoor pool over 18 inches deep to be fully enclosed by a 5-foot fence with a…
Read full rule →Prince Georges County
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County requires every outdoor pool, spa, or hot tub, public or residential, to be surrounded by a…
Read full rule →Rockville
Some RestrictionsRockville bars homeowners from self-permitting hot tub, spa, or pool wiring: that work always requires a licensed…
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