Auburn, WA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Auburn, WA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Adopted pool code
- 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code
- Excluded chapters
- Ch. 4, 5, 6 (public facilities only)
- Permit process
- Same application as ACC 15.07.050
- Certificate of occupancy
- Not required for R-3/U pools
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Community Development, building official
Summary
Auburn adopts the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code by reference under ACC 15.07.010(D)(11), covering residential pool and spa construction, and requires the same building-permit application under ACC 15.07.050 before work begins, with plan review and permit fees charged from the city's fee schedule.
11. International Swimming Pool and Spa Code Adopted. The 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, as published by the International Code Council, excluding Chapter 4, “Public Swimming Pools,” Chapter 5, “Public Spas and Public Exercise Spas,” and Chapter 6, “Aquatic Recreation Facilities,” is adopted by reference.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 7023, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Auburn folds residential swimming pool construction into its Construction Administrative Code rather than running a separate pool ordinance. ' That leaves the ISPSC's residential provisions, covering pool barriers, entrapment protection, and equipment, in force for private pools and spas built in the city. 050: identifying the work, the tax parcel, the valuation, and the prime contractor's state registration and city business license. 090, including rough-in and any special inspections the building official orders. 100(B), though the permit and inspection steps still apply.
Violations & Fines
Building or altering a pool without the required permit, or without complying with the adopted International Swimming Pool and Spa Code amendments, violates ACC 15.07.140(E) and, absent a more specific penalty, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Repeat or ongoing noncompliance can be prosecuted in Auburn's court of limited jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Auburn require a permit to build a residential pool?
Are public pools covered by the same code as backyard pools in Auburn?
Do I need a certificate of occupancy for a new backyard pool?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
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Pool Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle pool permits.