Bossier City, LA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

Bossier City folds residential swimming pool construction into its general building permit process rather than running a separate pool-only track. Section 18-39 of the Code of Ordinances bars anyone from erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, or moving any building or structure in the city without first securing a permit from the building official, and an in-ground pool counts as a structure for that purpose. Once plans are filed, Section 18-40 charges a fee schedule tied to cost, plus a flat $35.00 fee specifically listed for "each swimming pool" under the plumbing fee schedule of Section 18-311, covering the water-supply and drain connections.

If work starts before the permit issues, Section 18-40 doubles the fee and adds a flat $500.00 penalty on top. Beyond the paperwork, the Unified Development Code's Section 6.6.8 sets where the pool can actually sit: in the R-E, R-LD, and R-MD residential districts, an in-ground pool cannot go in the front yard of a single-family home, and every pool citywide must sit at least 5 feet off both the side and rear lot lines and stay entirely out of any utility or drainage easement.

The city has also adopted, by reference in Section 18-551, the International Swimming Pool Code in its most recent edition, and Section 18-551 makes it unlawful for any person to violate any of the provisions of that adopted code, layering its barrier and equipment standards on top of the local siting rules. A homeowner who ignores the permit requirement or the setback still faces the Chapter 18 penalty clause: under Section 18-47, any Code violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500.00 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both, with each day of noncompliance charged as a separate offense.