Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Portsmouth

Portsmouth, VA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Swimming pool permit rules in Portsmouth, VA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.

Key Facts

Governing rule
VUSBC + zoning ordinance, § 34-2(c)
Building code adoption
City Code § 7-96
Pool inspection fee
$50.00 (§ 7-133(a)(6))
Pool grounding fee
$50.00 (§ 7-133(a)(6))
Administering department
Dept. of permits and inspections
Private pool depth trigger
Over 24 inches (§ 34-3)

Summary

Portsmouth routes residential pools through the building code rather than a separate pool ordinance. Chapter 34, Section 34-2(c) requires private swimming pools to be built to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and the zoning ordinance, both of which the city administers through Chapter 7's permit process.

(c)Private swimming pools shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and the zoning ordinance. ... Sec. 7-96. - Adopted. There is hereby adopted by the city for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, repair, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy of buildings and structures, including permits and penalties, that certain code known as the "Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code," ... and the same are hereby adopted and referred to herein as the building code of the city as fully as if set out at length herein, and the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the corporate limits of the city.

View official code

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

Chapter 34 of the City Code, the Portsmouth Swimming Pool Ordinance, is written mainly around public pools, but Section 34-2(c) directly addresses residential pools: private swimming pools shall be constructed in accordance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and the zoning ordinance. ' That means a homeowner adding an in-ground or aboveground pool over the depth threshold used elsewhere in Chapter 34 (24 inches) needs a building permit reviewed against the VUSBC before construction starts, in addition to zoning compliance for placement on the lot.

00 fee for inspection of a temporary release, all administered through the department of permits and inspections rather than the health department that runs the Chapter 34 public-pool permit under Section 34-5. 2-305(B)(6) states that all fences serving as pool barriers must comply with all state and local standards, tying the fencing/barrier review into the same permit review that covers the pool structure itself. Because Chapter 34's administrative-authority permit provisions (Sections 34-4 through 34-8) are expressly scoped to public pools defined in Section 34-3, a homeowner should not expect the health department's annual public-pool permit process to apply; the building permit under Chapter 7 and VUSBC, plus zoning sign-off, is the residential track.

Violations & Fines

Failing to secure the required building permit before constructing a private pool exposes the owner to Chapter 7's general building-code enforcement, since Section 7-96 makes the VUSBC, including its permits and penalties provisions, controlling citywide; unpermitted work can be red-tagged by the department of permits and inspections until brought into compliance and inspected under the $50.00 fee schedule set out in Section 7-133(a)(6).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Portsmouth require a permit for a backyard swimming pool?
Yes. Section 34-2(c) requires private pools to be built to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, and Section 7-96 makes that code, including its permit requirements, controlling throughout the city. Practically, that means a building permit through the department of permits and inspections before construction.
Is a residential pool permit the same as Portsmouth's public pool permit?
No. Chapter 34's annual permit under Section 34-5 is issued by the health department and applies only to public pools as defined in Section 34-3. A private, family-use pool follows the Chapter 7 building permit and inspection process instead.
What does a Portsmouth pool inspection cost?
The Chapter 7 fee schedule at Section 7-133(a)(6) lists a $50.00 pool inspection fee, a $50.00 pool grounding fee, and a $50.00 fee for inspection of a temporary release, separate from any zoning permit fee for a required pool barrier fence.
Do I still need a fence permit if I already have a pool building permit?
Yes, they are reviewed together but are not the same approval. Section 40.2-305(B)(6) requires all fences serving as pool barriers to meet state and local standards, and fence work in Portsmouth requires its own zoning permit under Section 40.2-305(B)(2).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Portsmouth

Fencing & Safety RequirementsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Portsmouth rules

Compare Portsmouth to another location·View the Virginia swimming pools & spas overview

Get notified when Pool Permits in Portsmouth, VA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.