Yakima County, WA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Yakima County, WA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Governing code
- 2018 ISPSC, YCC § 13.02.010(11)
- Pool permit fee
- $129.80, YCC § 13.24.020
- Pre-permit work penalty
- Added investigation fee, § 13.16.030
- Side/rear pool setback
- 3 feet, § 19.18.020(8)(a)(ii)
- Barrier required
- Pools over 24 inches deep, IRC § 403.2
- Appeals
- Board of appeals, § 13.16.060
Summary
Yakima County adopts the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code countywide under YCC § 13.02.010(11), and a residential pool needs a building permit from the Building and Fire Safety Division before construction starts. The permit fee runs $129.80 under the county's Amended Table 1-A, separate from land-use setback and fencing requirements in Title 19.
Sections 105.6.1, 105.6.2, and 105.6.3 of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2018 Edition, is amended as follows: 105.6.1 Work Commencing Before Permit Issuance. Any person who commences any work requiring a permit on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to a fee established by the building official that shall be in addition to the required permit fees. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the cost of enforcement to the jurisdiction. The minimum investigation fee shall be the same as the permit fee set forth in Amended Table 1-A. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this code nor from any penalty prescribed by law. 105.6.2 Fee Schedule. The fee for each permit shall be as set forth in Amended Table 1-A as established in YCC § 13.24.020.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4871853; v6 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
010(11), the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2018 Edition, is adopted as Yakima County's regulation of pool construction with the same force as if written directly into the county code. 1). 80 permit fee specifically for swimming pools, separate from the valuation-based fee schedule used for other structures. 020(8) require the pool apron and pump house to meet the front-yard setback, and the pool and pump house to sit at least three feet from side and rear property lines, though the apron may extend to the line; none of it may encroach an easement.
2, which points to Section 305 of the ISPSC as adopted and amended in YCC Title 13, and an existing barrier cannot be removed or altered in a way that weakens it. Public pools, including private club pools, are also regulated as water recreation facilities by the Yakima Health District under WAC 246-260 and 246-262 and need separate Health District approval on top of the building permit.
Violations & Fines
Starting pool construction before the permit issues triggers the investigation fee under § 13.16.030 (ISPSC § 105.6.1), charged whether or not a permit is later issued. Building, altering or repairing a pool contrary to approved plans or a building official's order is subject to penalties under YCC § 13.25, with each day of continuing violation counted as a separate offense (§ 13.16.050, ISPSC § 107.4). A stop-work order under § 107.5 must be obeyed immediately; continuing work after one is served exposes the responsible person to prosecution and penalties under Chapter 13.25.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a pool in unincorporated Yakima County?
What happens if I build a pool before getting a permit?
How close to my property line can a pool sit?
Can I appeal a permit decision on my pool?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima County
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