Charles County, MD Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Charles County, MD, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Pool permit fee
- $110 (Health Dept, § 236-1)
- Pool operator's license
- $15
- Model code adopted
- 2021 ISPSC
- Chain-link barrier
- Minimum 11.5 AWG wire gauge
- Mesh fence barrier
- Not permitted, deleted
- Windowed wall barrier
- Not permitted, deleted
Summary
Charles County requires a $110 swimming pool permit from the Health Department and enforces the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code with local amendments strengthening chain-link fencing and eliminating mesh fences and windowed walls as approved pool barriers.
§ 224-1.9. International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. (1) ISPSC Section 305.2.7, Chain link dimensions, add "wire gauge must meet or exceed 11.5" awg." (2) ISPSC Section 305.2.4, Mesh fence as a barrier, delete without replacement. (3) ISPSC Section 305.4, Structure wall as a barrier, delete all mentions of "windows," without replacement.
Full Breakdown
Charles County adopted the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) as part of the Charles County Building Code under § 224-1, covering all building permit applications countywide. 4, so a structure wall with windows can no longer qualify as a compliant pool barrier. Separately, the County Health Department's Environmental Health Services Division charges a flat $110 swimming pool permit fee under § 236-1, alongside a $15 swimming pool operator's license fee for commercial or public pools and a $130 campground permit fee in the same fee schedule; these fees are reviewed and may be adjusted annually.
Because the ISPSC is folded into the Building Code, pool construction is also subject to the Building Code Official's general building permit process, and the terms 'Building Official' and 'Code Official' used throughout the adopted ICC codes are defined to mean the County's Building Code Official.
Violations & Fines
Building or altering a pool barrier that does not meet the amended ISPSC standards, thinner-than-11.5-AWG chain link, mesh fencing, or a windowed wall used as the barrier, fails the Building Code Official's inspection and blocks issuance of a certificate of occupancy or final permit approval until the barrier is brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a swimming pool permit cost in Charles County?
Can I use a mesh fence as my pool barrier?
Does my house wall count as a pool barrier if it has windows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charles County
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