Charleston County, SC Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Charleston County, SC, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Permit trigger depth
- over 24 inches of water
- Exempt pool type
- prefab, above-ground, under 5,000 gallons
- Governing section
- Sec. 4-20, § 105.2, item 7
- Permit office
- Dept. of Building Inspection Services
- State pool rule scope
- S.C. Regs. 61-51 covers public pools only
Summary
A backyard pool over 24 inches deep needs a Charleston County building permit before construction starts. Only small prefabricated above-ground pools under 24 inches deep and 5,000 gallons skip that step under Sec. 4-20, § 105.2, item 7; in-ground pools and larger above-ground pools fall under the general permit requirement in § 105.1.
105.1 Required Permits. Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure ... shall first make application; to the Building Official and obtain the required permit. ... 105.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from permit requirements of "this code" shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following: Building: ... 7.Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons (19000 L) and are installed entirely above ground. ... Swimming Pools. Any structure intended for swimming, recreational bathing or wading that contains water over 24 inches (610 mm) deep. This includes in-ground, above-ground and on-ground pools; hot tubs; spas and fixed-in-place wading pools.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Charleston County's Chapter 4 building code, adopted by Ordinance No. 2283 on March 26, 2024, defines a 'Swimming Pool' at Sec. 4-27, § 112 as 'any structure intended for swimming, recreational bathing or wading that contains water over 24 inches (610 mm) deep,' expressly covering in-ground, above-ground and on-ground pools, hot tubs, spas, and fixed-in-place wading pools. 1 requires an owner who intends to construct any structure regulated by the code to first file an application with the Building Official and obtain a permit before work begins.
' Any pool exceeding either threshold, including nearly every in-ground pool and most standard above-ground pools, needs a building permit. 5). C. Code Regs. 61-51, governs pools open to the public, such as HOA or hotel pools, and by its own scope excludes a privately owned pool serving a single family; a homeowner's backyard pool is regulated locally through this Chapter 4 permit process rather than the state's public-pool rules.
Violations & Fines
Building a pool that requires a permit without first obtaining one is a misdemeanor under Sec. 4-30, § 115.1.1. With no fine specified for this offense, § 115.4.1 applies the maximum penalty allowed in a South Carolina magistrate's court, and each day the unpermitted pool remains counts as a separate violation under § 115.1.3. The county can also seek an injunction to compel compliance or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to install an in-ground pool in unincorporated Charleston County?
What size above-ground pool can I install without a permit?
Does South Carolina's public pool regulation apply to my backyard pool?
What happens if I build a pool without the required permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston County
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