Rothschild, WI Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

Village Zoning Code § 590-108 requires a permit before ground is broken for any building or before a person builds or alters any structure in Rothschild, and § 590-180's definition of STRUCTURE expressly lists pools alongside buildings, decks and carports, so an in-ground or aboveground pool cannot go in without first clearing the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator. The permit carries a fee set by the Village's fee schedule and, under § 590-108's general provisions, a construction bond payable at the time of application; the permit is automatically revoked if the project has not started within one year of issuance.

Once the pool is in the ground, Chapter 476, Swimming Pools, takes over. Any outdoor private pool 18 inches deep or with 48 square feet of surface or more must be enclosed by a fence or wall at least four feet high, built without gaps larger than four inches, with self-closing and self-latching gates. A house wall or accessory building can serve as part of the enclosure. Aboveground pools with walls 42 inches or taller from ground level are the one exception: no separate fence is required.

Anyone who thinks the fence height, material or gate placement is impractical for their lot can ask the Village's Board of Appeals for a specific variance, following the appeal procedure set out in the Zoning Code, though the Board cannot approve anything that reduces the protection the fence is meant to provide.