Little Rock, AR Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Little Rock, AR, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Front setback
- 60 feet (R-1–R-4A)
- Side street setback
- 15 feet
- Rear yard coverage cap
- 30 percent
- Plumbing permit fee
- $14.42
- Drainage
- Must connect to storm or sanitary sewer
Summary
Little Rock treats above-ground and below-grade pools as accessory structures, so they must sit inside the same 60-foot front and 15-foot side-street setbacks as sheds and garages.
Accessory buildings or structures in the R-1 through R-4A districts shall not be located closer than sixty (60) feet to the front property line, fifteen (15) feet from a street side line and may not occupy more than thirty (30) percent of the required rear yard area. For purposes of double front lots, accessory buildings shall conform to front yard setback requirements on both streets. Accessory buildings or structures shall in all instances be subordinate to the principal structure on the lot and contain less gross floor area. Accessory dwellings shall not exceed the permitted land coverage allowed by the district regulations. Swimming pools and all appurtenant structures both above ground and below grade of adjacent yard area shall be construed to be accessory structures and conform to the standards of this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 36-156, an above-ground pool counts as an accessory structure, not exempt lawn furniture. In R-1 through R-4A districts that means keeping it at least 60 feet from the front property line, 15 feet from a street side line, and out of more than 30 percent of the required rear yard. The city's plumbing permit schedule (Sec. 8-31(c)(3)) also lists a flat $14.42 fee for a swimming pool connection, and Sec. 8-534 requires the pool's drainage to tie into the storm sewer, or the sanitary sewer if no storm line is available.
Violations & Fines
Setting up an above-ground pool inside the 60-foot front or 15-foot side-street setback, or draining it onto neighboring property instead of the storm or sanitary sewer, puts the installation out of compliance with the zoning and plumbing code and can draw a stop-work order from the planning or public works staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an above-ground pool need a permit in Little Rock?
How far from my property line can I put an above-ground pool?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
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