Brockton, MA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

City Code § 4-5(a) treats a swimming pool as an accessory structure subject to the zoning ordinance and makes it permit-dependent: the applicant must submit a plot plan in duplicate, and the installation is subject to inspection by the building inspector plus the rules of the board of health, the water division of the department of public works, the inspector of wires and the inspector of plumbing. This multi-agency review mirrors the general building permit process in § 4-1 and § 4-2, meaning a pool that involves electrical work (pool pumps, lighting) or plumbing connections triggers those separate department reviews on top of the building permit itself.

Because a pool is classified as an accessory structure under the zoning ordinance, it must also satisfy applicable setback and lot-coverage rules administered by the building department when the plot plan is reviewed. Fees for the underlying building permit follow the general schedule in § 4-3: for new construction, $100 covers the first $5,000 of stated valuation, plus $20 per additional $1,000 of valuation. Subsection (c) makes clear the permit and inspection requirement applies to every pool, fish pond or other body of water regardless of when it was built, so retrofits and older uninspected pools remain subject to the same construction permit standard whenever new work is performed on them.