Rapid City, SD Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Rapid City, SD, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Permit-exempt pool
- Under 40 in. deep, <=12,000 gal, above-ground
- Larger/in-ground pools
- Require § 15.04.150 building permit
- Residential pool fence height
- At least 4 feet
- Club/community pool setback
- 50 feet from property line
- Club/community pool fence height
- At least 5 feet
Summary
Rapid City requires a building permit for most residential swimming pools but exempts small prefabricated ones. Under Rapid City Municipal Code § 15.04.160, a prefabricated above-ground pool needs no permit if it is less than 40 inches deep and holds 12,000 gallons or less; deeper or larger pools need a permit like any other structure. Section 17.50.320 also requires any private pool to stay out of required yards and be fenced at least 4 feet high.
g. Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 40 inches deep, do not exceed 12,000 gallons and are installed entirely above ground; ... A. A private swimming pool shall be any structure intended for swimming, recreational bathing or wading not located within a completely enclosed building, and containing or normally capable of containing water to a depth at any point greater than 24 inches. ... 2. No swimming pool or part thereof, excluding aprons, walks and equipment rooms, shall protrude into any required front or side yard; 3. The swimming pool area shall be so walled or fenced so as to prevent uncontrolled access by children from the street or from adjacent properties or the private swimming pool shall be equipped with an ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) tested lockable cover. The fence or wall shall be not less than 4 feet in height and maintained in good condition.
Full Breakdown
150 with plans and fees like any other structure. 320 defines a private swimming pool broadly, covering in-ground, above-ground and on-ground pools, hot tubs, spas and fixed wading pools capable of holding water more than 24 inches deep, and permits them in any residential district as long as the pool serves only the occupants and their guests, does not protrude into a required front or side yard, and is walled or fenced to prevent uncontrolled access by children, with the fence or wall at least 4 feet high, or is equipped with an ASTM-tested lockable cover instead.
A community or club pool not open to the public must sit at least 50 feet from any property line and be enclosed by a fence or wall at least 5 feet high, with landscaping around the enclosure other than parking areas.
Violations & Fines
Building an in-ground pool, or an above-ground pool 40 inches deep or more or over 12,000 gallons, without first obtaining a building permit is unlawful under § 15.04.300, subject to the city's general penalty in § 1.12.010: $1 to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day of the violation a separate offense. A pool built without the fencing, wall or lockable cover required by § 17.50.320, or one that protrudes into a required yard, is likewise a zoning violation enforceable by Community Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for an above-ground pool in Rapid City?
How high does my pool fence have to be in Rapid City?
Can a swimming pool sit in my front yard in Rapid City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rapid City
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