Swimming Pools & Spas in Michigan (2026)
35 rules on the books across Michigan, 23 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.
Clinton Township
Some RestrictionsClinton Township makes it unlawful to start building a swimming pool, defined as any non-portable pool two feet deep or…
Read full rule →Dearborn
Some RestrictionsDearborn's zoning code only regulates a pool as a 'swimming pool' if it's permanent, non-portable, and holds water…
Read full rule →Dearborn Heights
Some RestrictionsSec. 30-3 bars building any nonportable swimming pool in Dearborn Heights until the building and engineering department…
Read full rule →Detroit
Some RestrictionsDetroit requires a plumbing permit before connecting a residential pool's filter, circulating pump, and water fill…
Read full rule →Farmington Hills
Some RestrictionsBuilding a swimming pool in Farmington Hills without first getting building, electrical, and plumbing permits from the…
Read full rule →Grand Rapids
Some RestrictionsGrand Rapids' Zoning Ordinance regulates 'swimming pool placement' without distinguishing above-ground or portable…
Read full rule →Kalamazoo
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Kalamazoo, it is unlawful to construct, operate, maintain or use a swimming pool three feet deep or more…
Read full rule →Kent County
Some RestrictionsBackyard residential pools are permitted by your city or township building department under the Michigan Residential…
Read full rule →Livonia
Some RestrictionsIt's unlawful to build or enlarge a private swimming pool in Livonia without permits from the bureau of inspection: an…
Read full rule →Oakland County
Some RestrictionsOakland County does not issue residential swimming pool permits directly. Public pools must be reviewed and permitted…
Read full rule →Pontiac
Some RestrictionsAnyone with a swimming pool on their Pontiac property must maintain a fence or solid structure at least four feet high…
Read full rule →Southfield
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Southfield, a residential pool needs a building permit before construction, with plan review under Sec…
Read full rule →Sterling Heights
Some RestrictionsSterling Heights enforces Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code, the swimming pool, spa and hot tub safety appendix…
Read full rule →West Bloomfield
Some RestrictionsIn West Bloomfield Township, building an inground swimming pool triggers a grading and drainage permit before any earth…
Read full rule →Westland
Some RestrictionsNo one may build, install, enlarge, or alter a swimming pool in Westland without a permit from the code official, and a…
Read full rule →Wyoming
Some RestrictionsBuilding or installing a private swimming pool inside the City of Wyoming, Michigan, in Kent County, requires a permit…
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.
Michigan: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsMichigan's Public Health Code Part 125 sets uniform safety, lifeguard, and water quality standards for public and…
Read full rule →Macomb County
Heavy RestrictionsPublic pools in Macomb County are licensed by Michigan EGLE and inspected by the Macomb County Health Department under…
Read full rule →Clinton Township
Some RestrictionsClinton Township requires every swimming pool to meet the enclosure requirements of the current International Swimming…
Read full rule →Dearborn Heights
Some RestrictionsSec. 30-5 requires every swimming pool in Dearborn Heights to be enclosed by a fence between four and six feet tall…
Read full rule →Detroit
Some RestrictionsDetroit requires every swimming pool to be fully enclosed by a four-foot fence with a self-latching gate and a working…
Read full rule →Farmington Hills
Some RestrictionsFarmington Hills does not write its own numeric pool-fence dimensions. Sec. 28-30 instead folds pool barrier…
Read full rule →Genesee County
Some RestrictionsPublic pools in Genesee County are inspected annually by the Health Department for water quality, safety equipment, and…
Read full rule →Kalamazoo
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Kalamazoo, every outdoor swimming pool must be enclosed by a fence at least four feet high, or high…
Read full rule →Kent County
Some RestrictionsPublic pools in Kent County are licensed and inspected by the Health Department, which requires monthly water sampling…
Read full rule →Lansing
Some RestrictionsLansing requires a four-foot, self-closing, self-latching enclosure around any pool 24 inches deep or 150 cubic feet or…
Read full rule →Livonia
Some RestrictionsEvery homeowner's pool in Livonia must be completely enclosed by a fence at least 4 feet high, chain-link or…
Read full rule →Pontiac
Some RestrictionsEvery private swimming pool at least one foot deep in the City of Pontiac must sit inside a fence or solid enclosure at…
Read full rule →Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsSwimming pool enclosures in Rochester Hills are exempt from the general fence chapter's usual applicability but must…
Read full rule →Southfield
Some RestrictionsSouthfield's own fence chapter does not set pool-specific fence numbers; City Code § 5.37-1.F instead points pool…
Read full rule →Taylor
Some RestrictionsTaylor keeps swimming pools, spas and hot tubs out of the front and side yard, requires at least ten feet from the rear…
Read full rule →Troy
Some RestrictionsTroy requires a 48-inch fence or barrier around any private pool, hot tub or spa deeper than 24 inches, with…
Read full rule →Warren
Some RestrictionsWarren requires any reflector pool, fish pond, lily pond or other artificial body of water 25 inches deep or more to be…
Read full rule →Westland
Some RestrictionsWestland requires public pools to fully turn over their water every eight hours and hold chlorine between 0.4 and 0.6…
Read full rule →Wyoming
Some RestrictionsEvery private swimming pool in the City of Wyoming, Michigan, must sit at least six feet from side and rear lot lines…
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