Dothan, AL Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Dothan, AL, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Permit-required activity
- Swimming pools, § 14-5(16)
- Fee basis
- % of valuation, § 14-7
- Pool code adopted
- 2021 ISPSC, § 14-21
- Local ISPSC amendments
- § 14-29
- No-permit penalty
- Up to double fee or $500, § 14-14
Summary
In the City of Dothan a residential or commercial swimming pool is one of the specifically listed activities requiring a building permit before construction, with the permit fee based on the project's valuation under the standard fee schedule.
Where the building official determines that construction permits are required, application for said work must be made to the building official in accordance with provisions of this article. ... The following activities, in addition to others specified herein, require permits, the cost of which shall be in accordance with section 14-6:(1)Building construction or demolition including placement of any accessory structure either constructed or placed (prefabricated) on the site; ... (16)Swimming pools;(17)Water wells.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 14-5 directs that where the building official determines construction permits are required, application must be made to the building official under the procedures of that article, and it lists swimming pools by name among the activities requiring a permit, alongside building construction, fences, signs, manufactured housing placement, and paving. The fee follows § 14-6 and § 14-7's schedule: no fee for valuation under $1,000 unless a permit is otherwise required (minimum $50), 0.20 percent of valuation up to $500,000, then a stepped rate for higher valuations.
Pool construction also falls under the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), adopted citywide by § 14-21 as part of the City of Dothan's Building Codes, with local amendments made in § 14-29: the code compliance agency reference is replaced with the building official under § 14-2, violations and penalties route through § 14-13, and appeals go to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals rather than a generic "board of appeals." Under § 14-3, it is unlawful to construct or erect any structure, including a pool, without first notifying the building official, who determines whether a permit is required, and a completed pool must pass inspection before any certificate of occupancy or sign-off issues for the work.
Violations & Fines
Building or installing a pool without first obtaining the required permit exposes the owner or contractor to the penalty in § 14-14(a): the lesser of $500.00 or double the permit fee for the first two offenses within a 12-month period, and the greater of double the fee or $500.00 for a third or later offense in a subsequent 12-month period, on top of the actual permit fee. Other violations of the building chapter, including ISPSC amendments adopted in § 14-29, are misdemeanors punished under § 1-4, with each day of continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a pool in Dothan?
What pool construction code does Dothan use?
What happens if I build a pool without a Dothan permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dothan
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