Augusta-Richmond County, GA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Augusta-Richmond County, GA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Governing provision
- Zoning Ordinance Sec. 2, "Structure"
- Pools covered
- Above-ground and in-ground, no size cutoff
- R-1 accessory rear setback
- 10 feet minimum
- Violation penalty
- Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail
- Enforcing agency
- Planning and Development Department
Summary
Augusta-Richmond County's zoning code defines "structure" to expressly include above-ground swimming pools, so every above-ground pool, regardless of size, must meet the same permit and setback rules that apply to sheds and other accessory structures.
"STRUCTURE" shall mean anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires more or less permanent or semi-permanent location on the ground... The term shall include all types of buildings, houses, gazebos, above-ground swimming pools, in-ground swimming pools, hot tubs, heating and air conditioning equipment, house trailers, manufactured homes... and tents and canopies which are in place more than two consecutive days during any calendar quarter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Recodification).
Full Breakdown
The Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance's "STRUCTURE" definition lists above-ground swimming pools by name alongside gazebos, in-ground pools, and hot tubs as items "the use of which requires more or less permanent or semi-permanent location on the ground." Because pools fall under this definition, installing one triggers the same zoning setback rules that apply to any other structure in the zone -- in an R-1 district, for example, accessory structures need at least a 10-foot rear setback and the same side setback required for principal structures. The Augusta Planning and Development Department administers compliance; no minimum-size or "portable pool" exemption appears in the code's definitions.
Violations & Fines
Installing or maintaining a structure, including an above-ground pool, in violation of the zoning ordinance is punishable by up to a $500 fine and/or 60 days in jail, with cases tried in Magistrate's Court (Sec. 32-4).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a small above-ground pool need a permit in Augusta-Richmond County?
How far must an above-ground pool sit from the property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Augusta-Richmond County
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