Above-ground pools in unincorporated Shelby County need a building permit and a compliant barrier unless the pool is a prefabricated unit less than 24 inches deep, under the adopted Memphis and Shelby County Residential Code.
The county's Residential Code local amendment (Ord. 425) exempts only prefabricated pools less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep from permitting; a deeper above-ground pool requires a building permit from Construction Code Enforcement. Above-ground pools must still meet the IRC barrier standard: the pool wall may serve as the barrier if it is at least 48 inches high, but the ladder or steps must then be removable, capable of being secured, locked, or fenced to prevent access. When a barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum clearance under the barrier increases to 4 inches. Electrical bonding of the pool structure and equipment must be inspected under the adopted Electrical Code.
Installing a deeper above-ground pool without a permit or an adequate barrier fails inspection and is enforceable by Construction Code Enforcement. An unsecured ladder that leaves the pool accessible is treated as a barrier deficiency.
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See how Shelby County's above-ground pools rules stack up against other locations.
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