Kennewick, WA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Kennewick, WA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Governing code
- IRC Appendix G via WAC 51-51-003
- Exempt pools
- Prefab, walls above grade, under 5,000 gallons
- Public/semi-public pools
- Need Benton-Franklin Health District approval
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine / 90 days jail
- Appeals
- Through KMC Chapter 4.04 process
- Enforcement
- Building Official, a City Manager designee
Summary
Kennewick requires a building permit for most residential swimming pools under the International Residential Code's Appendix G, which the city has adopted by ordinance. Public and semi-public pools also need written approval from the Benton-Franklin Health District before a permit issues. Small prefabricated pools with walls entirely above grade and under 5,000 gallons are exempt from the permit requirement.
The International Residential Code, Appendix G "Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs," WAC 51-51-003, is hereby adopted. ... 107.4 No permits for public or semi-public pools will be issued without the written approval of the Benton-Franklin District Health Department. ... Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R, Division 3 Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,927 L).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
010). Appendix G sets the barrier, alarm, and drain-cover standards that apply once a permit is required; the state amendment folds those standards directly into Kennewick's adopted code rather than creating a separate city standard. 050); that health-district sign-off is a prerequisite the Building Official checks before permit issuance. 060(1)(i)). 040), and the exemption does not excuse separate plumbing or electrical permits tied to pool equipment. 060).
Violations & Fines
Building or altering a pool that needs a permit without one is a Title 15 violation under KMC 15.04.070, which makes any unpermitted work a misdemeanor. Under the citywide penalty at KMC 1.12.010, that carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a backyard pool in Kennewick?
Are any pools exempt from a Kennewick building permit?
Do public pools need extra approval in Kennewick?
What happens if I build a pool without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
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