Joliet, IL Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Joliet, IL, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City building inspector
- Permanent pool fee
- Based on pool and fence valuation
- Portable pool fee
- None
- Fence height minimum
- 4 feet
- Fence contract proof
- Required before permit issues
- Grace period for old pools
- 30 days to fence
Summary
Joliet requires a building permit from the city building inspector before anyone erects or constructs a family swimming pool, with the fee set by the valuation of the pool and fence. Portable pools need a permit too, but the city waives the fee for those.
No person shall erect or construct a family swimming pool or a portable family swimming pool without first obtaining a permit therefor from the city building inspector. The fee for a permit for a family swimming pool will be based on the valuation of the pool and fence according to the plans and specifications therefor, as submitted to the building inspector as per the Joliet City Code and amendments thereto. There shall be no fee for a permit to erect a portable family swimming pool.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 200).
Full Breakdown
Under Code of Ordinances Sec. 8-484, no person may erect or construct a family swimming pool or a portable family swimming pool in Joliet without first getting a permit from the city building inspector. For an in-ground or permanent family pool, defined in Sec. 8-480 as any artificial body of water requiring excavation, standing over 48 inches above ground, or holding water more than 24 inches deep or 100 cubic feet, the permit fee is calculated from the valuation of the pool and the required fence as shown on the plans submitted to the inspector.
A portable family swimming pool, one that can be dismantled or relocated and holds over 24 inches of water or 100 cubic feet, still needs a permit, but Sec. 8-484 sets no fee for it. Before the inspector will issue either permit, Sec. 8-483 requires the applicant to produce proof of a contract for the supply and/or erection of the fence mandated by Sec. 8-482: a fence or wall at least four feet high enclosing the pool or the whole lot, built to prevent uncontrolled access by children from public areas or adjoining lots.
Sec. 8-481 bars placing any family or portable pool in a required front yard or required corner side yard regardless of permit status. Retail sellers of portable pools must post a copy of the article or hand a copy to every buyer before taking payment, per Sec. 8-485.
Violations & Fines
A pool built or erected without the required permit, or without the section 8-482 fence, is operated unlawfully. Sec. 8-487 lets the city shut off the water supply to the property after giving ten days' written notice of the violation and the owner's failure to correct it. Owners who already had a pool when the article took effect got a 30-day grace period under Sec. 8-486 to install the required fence before enforcement applied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for an above-ground portable pool in Joliet?
What happens if I skip the fence around my Joliet pool?
Can I put a pool in my front yard in Joliet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Joliet
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