Swimming Pools & Spas in Washington (2026)
55 rules on the books across Washington, 30 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.
Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn adopts the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code by reference under ACC 15.07.010(D)(11), covering…
Read full rule →Bellevue
Some RestrictionsBellevue requires a building permit for constructing or altering a swimming pool under the general permit rule at BCC…
Read full rule →Bellingham
Some RestrictionsBellingham lets homeowners skip a building permit for a small prefabricated above-ground pool, but only if it stays…
Read full rule →Benton County
Some RestrictionsAn above-ground pool holding water over 24 inches deep needs a Benton County building permit and must meet the 2021…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsA building permit is required to build an in-ground or above-ground swimming pool or spa in unincorporated Clark…
Read full rule →Federal Way
Some RestrictionsFederal Way requires plans for any swimming pool to be constructed in the city to show compliance with the swimming…
Read full rule →Franklin County
Some RestrictionsAn in-ground pool in unincorporated Franklin County needs a $300 building permit, and an above-ground pool or hot tub…
Read full rule →Kennewick
Some RestrictionsKennewick requires a building permit for most residential swimming pools under the International Residential Code's…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated King County, an above-ground pool that can hold water more than 24 inches deep is regulated as a…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsKirkland requires a building permit under KMC 21.06.205 to construct an in-ground or deep residential pool, and the…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood folds pool construction into the same 'Lakewood Building Code' as its other adopted codes: LMC 15.05.020(J)…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsLynnwood requires a building permit to construct a residential pool under the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville exempts small prefab above-ground pools from a building permit only if under 24 inches deep and 5,000…
Read full rule →Pasco
Some RestrictionsPasco requires residential pools, spas, and hot tubs to be built under the adopted International Swimming Pool and Spa…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsConstructing a residential swimming pool in unincorporated Pierce County requires a building permit under the county's…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPort Townsend requires a building permit to construct a residential swimming pool because the city has adopted the 2021…
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsRenton requires new residential pools, spas and hot tubs to comply with the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa…
Read full rule →Sammamish
Some RestrictionsSammamish requires backyard pools and spas to comply with the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, covering…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsConstructing a residential swimming pool in Seattle requires an SDCI building permit under Table D-2 for SMC…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Snohomish County requires a building permit before installing an in-ground or deep residential swimming…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsBackyard residential pools need a Spokane County building permit; the barrier is inspected. Public and shared (WRF)…
Read full rule →Spokane Valley
Some RestrictionsSpokane Valley requires every in-ground swimming pool to sit behind the front yard setback line and at least five feet…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Some RestrictionsTacoma exempts small prefabricated above-ground pools from a building permit, under 24 inches deep and 5,000 gallons…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County waives the building permit for a prefabricated swimming pool only when it is accessory to a house…
Read full rule →Whatcom County
Some RestrictionsWhatcom County requires a building permit for any residential swimming pool except a small prefabricated model. WCC §…
Read full rule →Yakima
Some RestrictionsYakima exempts only small prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep and 5,000 gallons, installed entirely above ground…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Some RestrictionsYakima County adopts the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code countywide under YCC § 13.02.010(11), and a…
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.
Washington: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsWashington WAC 246-260 regulates public spas and hot tubs at hotels, apartments, gyms, and HOAs, requiring permits…
Read full rule →Auburn
Heavy RestrictionsAuburn pools must comply with federal VGB Act anti-entrapment drain covers, WAC 246-260 for commercial pools, and…
Read full rule →Benton County
Heavy RestrictionsA residential pool, spa, or hot tub in unincorporated Benton County must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches…
Read full rule →Kennewick
Heavy RestrictionsPool safety in Kennewick is governed by a layered set of standards: the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Heavy RestrictionsAny outdoor residential pool in unincorporated Pierce County that holds water over 24 inches deep must be surrounded by…
Read full rule →Vancouver
Heavy RestrictionsVancouver requires pools to meet Washington State Building Code safety standards including barriers, anti-entrapment…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Heavy RestrictionsA residential pool, spa, or hot tub in unincorporated Yakima County must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches…
Read full rule →Bellevue
Some RestrictionsBellevue requires every outdoor swimming pool, spa and hot tub, new or existing, to have a barrier meeting the…
Read full rule →Bellingham
Some RestrictionsBellingham adopts the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code by reference, as amended by Washington's WAC 51-51…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsResidential hot tubs and spas are regulated under the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and IRC adopted in Clark…
Read full rule →Federal Way
Some RestrictionsAny Federal Way pool, hot tub, or spa deeper than 18 inches must be enclosed by a fence or solid structure at least…
Read full rule →Franklin County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Franklin County, any swimming pool must be entirely enclosed by a fence, wall or building at least…
Read full rule →Grant County
Some RestrictionsGrant County regulates pool barriers by adopting the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code by reference at GCC…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated King County requires private pools, hot tubs and spas over 24 inches deep to be fully enclosed by a…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsKirkland requires a fence or barrier at least forty-eight inches tall around any private pool, hot tub or spa deeper…
Read full rule →Pasco
Some RestrictionsEvery outdoor pool, spa, and hot tub in Pasco must sit behind a nonclimbable barrier at least five feet tall with a…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPort Townsend requires pools and spas to meet the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, adopted into the…
Read full rule →Puyallup
Some RestrictionsAny Puyallup pool 12 inches deep or more needs a barrier at least 6 feet tall with no gap wider than 4 inches and a…
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsRenton requires private residential pools, spas and hot tubs to comply with the International Swimming Pool and Spa…
Read full rule →Sammamish
Some RestrictionsPrivate pools, hot tubs and spas deeper than 36 inches must have a self-closing, self-latching barrier at least 48…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsSeattle's Water Recreation Facility Code (SMC 10.12) and Swimming and Spa Pool Code (SMC 10.56) require a Public…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsEvery swimming or wading pool in unincorporated Snohomish County, aside from hot tubs and spas, must be enclosed by a…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsEvery private swimming pool in unincorporated Spokane County must meet the barrier standards of IRC Appendix G before…
Read full rule →Spokane Valley
Some RestrictionsSpokane Valley regulates in-ground pools through zoning and building code together: SVMC § 19.65.180(B) requires the…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Some RestrictionsTacoma requires a five-foot fence with a lockable, self-closing, self-latching gate around every outdoor public or…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County requires every private swimming pool to sit outside a required yard and be enclosed by a fence or other…
Read full rule →Whatcom County
Some RestrictionsOnly a small above-ground kiddie pool skips the building permit in unincorporated Whatcom County, under WCC §…
Read full rule →Yakima
Some RestrictionsYakima requires any private pool, hot tub, or spa deeper than 24 inches to be enclosed by a fence or barrier at least…
Read full rule →