Swimming pool permit rules in Richland County, SC — also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations — set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
A residential pool in unincorporated Richland County needs a county building permit before excavation; the SC Residential Code (Appendix G) governs construction and barriers. A PUBLIC pool additionally needs a Construction Permit from SC DES before any work begins.
Private residential pools follow the adopted 2021 SC Residential Code and require a Richland County building/land-development permit; inspections cover the barrier, electrical bonding and depth markings. Pools serving a subdivision, HOA, club, apartment complex or short-term rental are "public swimming pools" under SC Regulation 61-51 and are permitted and inspected by the SC Department of Environmental Services (formerly DHEC), not the county. Inside Columbia, Forest Acres or Blythewood the city permits. Always confirm the classification first, because the permitting authority and design rules differ sharply between private and public pools.
Building without a permit can trigger a stop-work order, double permit fees and required corrective inspections; an unpermitted public pool may not operate until DES issues its construction and operating permits.
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