Swimming Pools & Spas in Tennessee (2026)
25 rules on the books across Tennessee, 13 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.
Chattanooga
Some RestrictionsChattanooga requires a building permit from the city building official before any public or private swimming pool…
Read full rule →Clarksville
Some RestrictionsEvery swimming pool in Clarksville needs a permit before installation, in-ground or above-ground. The city requires a…
Read full rule →Franklin
Some RestrictionsFranklin requires a permit for any pool built, installed, repaired, or altered in the city under its adopted 2024…
Read full rule →Hendersonville
Some RestrictionsHendersonville requires a Zoning Permit and a 5-foot property-line setback for any pool, and front-yard pools must be…
Read full rule →Knox County
Some RestrictionsBefore Knox County will permit a private pool, § 10-238(b) requires the pool plans, including the required fence, to be…
Read full rule →Knoxville
Some RestrictionsKnoxville requires a building permit before constructing a residential pool, issued under the adopted International…
Read full rule →Murfreesboro
Some RestrictionsMurfreesboro will not issue a residential swimming pool building permit unless the project includes a functioning pool…
Read full rule →Nashville
Some RestrictionsMetro Nashville requires a codes-administration permit to erect an above-ground pool, and the pool must sit at least…
Read full rule →Rutherford County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Rutherford County, any swimming pool, hot tub, or spa holding more than 24 inches of water needs a…
Read full rule →Shelby County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Shelby County, a residential swimming pool needs a building permit from the Memphis and Shelby County…
Read full rule →Sumner County
Some RestrictionsAn above-ground pool deep enough to hold more than 24 inches of water needs a county pool permit in unincorporated…
Read full rule →Williamson County
Some RestrictionsAn above-ground pool holding more than 30 inches of water needs a permit in unincorporated Williamson County. The pool…
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.
Tennessee: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsTennessee Department of Health regulates public swimming pools statewide under the Public Swimming Pool Inspection Act…
Read full rule →Chattanooga
Some RestrictionsChattanooga requires every public and private swimming pool to be enclosed by a wall or fence at least 4 feet high…
Read full rule →Clarksville
Some RestrictionsClarksville treats a permanently installed spa or hot tub as a pool for permit purposes. Tennessee goes further for…
Read full rule →Franklin
Some RestrictionsFranklin has adopted the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code by reference, setting the design, construction…
Read full rule →Hendersonville
Some RestrictionsEvery swimming pool and hot tub in Hendersonville must be enclosed by a fence that meets the city's residential fence…
Read full rule →Knox County
Some RestrictionsPrivate pools in unincorporated Knox County must be walled or fenced at least four feet high and kept in good condition…
Read full rule →Knoxville
Some RestrictionsKnoxville's zoning code exempts spas and hot tubs from swimming pool setback and yard rules only if they carry a…
Read full rule →Memphis
Some RestrictionsMemphis Code §§ 9-92-2 and 9-92-12 require every public swimming pool to hold a $150 annual health department permit…
Read full rule →Murfreesboro
Some RestrictionsEvery residential swimming pool installed or substantially altered in Murfreesboro since January 1, 2011 must carry a…
Read full rule →Nashville
Some RestrictionsMetro's Property Standards Code requires any gate the Building Code already mandates be self-closing and self-latching…
Read full rule →Rutherford County
Some RestrictionsEvery residential pool in unincorporated Rutherford County must be enclosed by a barrier at least four feet high…
Read full rule →Sumner County
Some RestrictionsSumner County requires a barrier around every swimming pool and spa that meets the International Swimming Pool and Spa…
Read full rule →Williamson County
Some RestrictionsWilliamson County requires every swimming pool in the unincorporated county to be enclosed by a fence at least four…
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