Swimming Pools & Spas in Minnesota (2026)
41 rules on the books across Minnesota, 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.
Minnesota: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsThe Minnesota State Building Code requires construction permits for residential and public pools statewide. Local…
Read full rule →Apple Valley
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Apple Valley, Minnesota, no one can construct, install or locate a swimming pool without first obtaining…
Read full rule →Blaine
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Blaine, a building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, or move any pool. The only…
Read full rule →Brooklyn Park
Some RestrictionsAnyone who wants to build, enlarge or move a swimming pool, spa or hot tub more than 24 inches deep in the City of…
Read full rule →Carver County
Some RestrictionsCarver County has adopted the Minnesota State Building Code for all construction in the unincorporated area (§ 150.01)…
Read full rule →Coon Rapids
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Coon Rapids, a permit from the Chief Building Official is required before construction begins on any…
Read full rule →Dakota County
Some RestrictionsDakota County does not issue backyard residential pool permits; your city building department does. The county's role…
Read full rule →Eagan
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Eagan, any outdoor swimming pool deeper than 24 inches or larger than 150 square feet at a single-family…
Read full rule →Hennepin County
Some RestrictionsBefore building or remodeling a public pool in Hennepin County, plans go to the state Pool Engineer first: the…
Read full rule →Lakeville
Some RestrictionsLakeville requires Zoning Administrator approval under City Code section 11-21-9.G before anyone builds a swimming pool…
Read full rule →Maple Grove
Some RestrictionsMaple Grove regulates above-ground and portable pools as 'swimming pools' once they hold more than 18 inches of water…
Read full rule →Minneapolis
Some RestrictionsSetting up, rebuilding, or altering a portable or above-ground pool worth more than $100 requires a City of Minneapolis…
Read full rule →Minnetonka
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Minnetonka, Hennepin County, Minnesota, a person must not construct, alter or reconstruct a private…
Read full rule →Olmsted County
Some RestrictionsIn the townships Olmsted County zones directly, a private swimming pool is an accessory use allowed in any residential…
Read full rule →Saint Paul
Some RestrictionsBuilding a residential swimming pool in Saint Paul requires a building permit from the building official under Section…
Read full rule →Woodbury
Some RestrictionsWoodbury requires a building official permit before anyone constructs, alters or repairs a private swimming pool…
Read full rule →Wright County
Some RestrictionsA pool in Wright County needs a building permit before you dig. Minn. Stat. 326B.121 makes the State Building Code the…
Read full rule →Stearns County
Light RestrictionsStearns County does not require a construction site permit to build a residential swimming pool. The only building-side…
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.
Minnesota: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsMinnesota Department of Health rules under Minn. R. Chapter 4717 govern public pool operation including water quality…
Read full rule →Bloomington
Heavy RestrictionsBloomington regulates swimming pool enclosures under City Code Sec. 14.443 (public/licensed pools, Chapter 14 Article…
Read full rule →Scott County
Heavy RestrictionsEvery residential pool needs a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Minnesota struck…
Read full rule →Apple Valley
Significant RestrictionsIn the City of Apple Valley, Minnesota, a swimming pool needs a barrier at least 48 inches high that completely…
Read full rule →Blaine
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Blaine, any outdoor private residential swimming pool that requires a building permit must be surrounded…
Read full rule →Blue Earth County
Some RestrictionsA private swimming pool in the Rural Residence (RR) District of unincorporated Blue Earth County is only a permitted…
Read full rule →Brooklyn Park
Some RestrictionsEvery private swimming pool, spa or hot tub deeper than 24 inches in the City of Brooklyn Park must have a barrier at…
Read full rule →Coon Rapids
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Coon Rapids, every residential swimming pool must be completely enclosed by a non-climbing barrier at…
Read full rule →Dakota County
Some RestrictionsPublic pools in Dakota County, Minnesota, must follow Minnesota Rules part 4717.1550: fencing at least five feet high…
Read full rule →Eagan
Some RestrictionsEvery outdoor swimming pool deeper than 24 inches or larger than 150 square feet at a single-family home in Eagan must…
Read full rule →Eden Prairie
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Eden Prairie, every outdoor swimming pool deeper than 24 inches and larger than 150 square feet must be…
Read full rule →Hennepin County
Some RestrictionsHennepin County adopts state pool safety law, including the Abigail Taylor Pool Safety Act, and requires a county…
Read full rule →Lakeville
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Lakeville, Minnesota, City Code § 11-21-5(G)(3) requires every permitted swimming pool to have a…
Read full rule →Maple Grove
Some RestrictionsEvery pool deeper than 18 inches in Maple Grove must be enclosed by a climb-resistant fence at least four feet tall…
Read full rule →Minneapolis
Some RestrictionsOutdoor residential pools in Minneapolis must be enclosed by a fence, wall or barrier at least four feet tall with…
Read full rule →Minnetonka
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Minnetonka, Minnesota, outdoor private residential pools holding water more than 24 inches deep must be…
Read full rule →Olmsted County
Some RestrictionsA below-grade pool in the townships Olmsted County zones directly must be enclosed by a fence at least 5 feet high that…
Read full rule →Plymouth
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Plymouth, every Private Residential Pool must be fenced or otherwise positively controlled against…
Read full rule →Ramsey County
Some RestrictionsPublic pools in Ramsey County must be fenced to Minn. R. 4717.1550, subpart 2: the fence stands at least five feet…
Read full rule →Saint Paul
Some RestrictionsAny pool open to the public, members, apartment residents, or hotel guests in Saint Paul needs a Sec. 360.01…
Read full rule →Stearns County
Some RestrictionsEvery swimming pool in unincorporated Stearns County must be enclosed by a wall or fence at least six feet high with a…
Read full rule →Woodbury
Some RestrictionsEvery private pool in Woodbury needs a fence or wall at least four feet high with no gaps over four inches, and any…
Read full rule →Wright County
Some RestrictionsPublic pools in Wright County must be fenced to Minnesota Rules part 4717.1550: the fence has to be at least five feet…
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