Henrico County, VA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Henrico County, VA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Henrico Building Inspections
- Governing code
- Virginia USBC (Va. Code 36-99)
- Permit trigger
- Pool over 24 inches deep
- Zoning pool setback
- 10 feet from lot lines
- Required before use
- Barrier + electrical inspection
Summary
Because Henrico County governs its entire territory (no towns), any residential swimming pool, spa, or hot tub built here needs a Henrico Building Inspections permit. Pools are regulated construction under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), which Henrico administers countywide.
The Building Code shall prescribe building regulations to be complied with in the construction and rehabilitation of buildings and structures, and the equipment therein as defined in § 36-97.
Full Breakdown
Henrico County is one of two Virginia counties with a special charter and has no incorporated municipalities, so the County itself issues all building permits for the roughly 330,000 residents in Short Pump, Glen Allen, Tuckahoe, Sandston, Varina and the rest of the county. A permanent in-ground or above-ground pool that holds water more than 24 inches deep is a structure under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (Va. Code Title 36, Chapter 6), which Henrico's Building Inspections and Permit Center enforces. Applicants submit a plot plan showing the pool location, required barrier, setbacks and any electrical work; Henrico's zoning also requires the pool be set at least ten feet from all lot lines.
Violations & Fines
Building or filling a pool without the required USBC permit and inspections can trigger a stop-work order, a notice of violation, and civil penalties under the Uniform Statewide Building Code, plus a requirement to obtain permits retroactively and pass safety-barrier
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a pool in Henrico County?
Who regulates pools, Richmond or Henrico?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henrico County
Compare Henrico County to another location·View the Virginia swimming pools & spas overview
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