Oak Park, IL Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

2, Work Exempt From Permit. That amended list carves out only two pool scenarios from permitting: item 9 exempts prefabricated above-ground pools accessory to a single- or two-family home that are less than 24 inches deep and hold no more than 5,000 gallons, and item 24 exempts smaller temporary above-ground pools under 18 inches deep holding no more than 2,500 gallons when filled to the point of spilling. Anything larger, and any in-ground pool of any size, falls outside both exemptions and requires a full building permit reviewed by the Chief Building Official before work starts.

2 also makes clear that an exemption from the permit itself never authorizes work done in violation of any other code provision or Village ordinance. Properties that are eligible or designated historic landmarks, or that sit inside a designated historic district, carry an extra layer: a certificate of advisory review is required for any work item, and a certificate of appropriateness may also be required, before that work, including a pool installation, can proceed. Because Oak Park's separate Swimming Pool and Spa Code (Village Code § 7-15-1) adopts the 2021 ISPSC for construction and safety standards once a pool is being built, the permit determination under § 7-1-2 is the threshold step that decides whether that ISPSC review and inspection process is triggered at all.