Lafayette Parish, LA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Lafayette Parish, LA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- Same as standard building permit fee
- Pool deck setback
- 3 feet from property line
- Territorial scope
- City of Lafayette and unincorporated parish
- Above-ground pools
- No size or type exemption
- Variance authority
- BZA in city, Planning Commission in parish
Summary
Lafayette City-Parish requires a building permit for any new or refurbished swimming pool, including above-ground and portable models, with no size exemption and a 3-foot setback for pool decking.
This article is intended to apply to existing swimming pools located within the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated areas of the Parish of Lafayette, as well as new swimming pools to be built following the enactment of this article, except that the minimum setback provisions contained herein shall apply only to pools built after enactment of this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Article IX of the parish's development regulations covers 'new and existing swimming pools' built or structurally refurbished in the City of Lafayette and unincorporated parish alike (Sec. 26-531), with no separate above-ground, portable, or minimum-size carve-out: a backyard above-ground pool triggers the same rules as an in-ground pool. The permit fee matches the standard building permit fee (Sec. 26-533). Pool decking can't sit within 3 feet of a property line unless it diverts water inward, electrical work needs a licensed electrical contractor following NEC Article 680, and any variance of the setback goes to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (City) or Planning Commission (unincorporated parish) (Sec. 26-532, 26-535).
Violations & Fines
Concealing electrical wiring before it's inspected forces removal of materials to expose the connections; rejected electrical work requires a re-inspection before it passes (Sec. 26-532, 26-534).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an above-ground pool need a permit in Lafayette Parish?
How much does the pool permit cost?
Does this rule cover Broussard or Youngsville pools too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette Parish
Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana swimming pools & spas overview
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