Salt Lake County, UT Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Salt Lake County, UT, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Section
- §15.08.030 (amends IBC §108.2)
- Occupancy class
- R-3/U includes pools
- Fee set by
- County building official
- Area
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Salt Lake County's amended building fee schedule treats residential swimming pools as an R-3/U occupancy requiring plan review before a building permit issues, with the review fee set by the county building official.
the plan review fee for R-3 and U occupancies, including swimming pools and signs, shall be as determined by the building official.2.Plans which have been previously reviewed and placed in the county's plan card file in contemplation of future permit issuance shall be charged a plan review fee established by the building official. Such plans may be used for issuing new permits until a new edition of the building code is adopted by the state. In such case the plans shall be resubmitted for review by the county. The cost for such review shall be as determined by the building official. Any such plans which have not had a permit issued within for a period of eighteen months from the last permit issued under the same card file shall be resubmitted for a full plan review, with all required fees, if they are to be used again. Card file plans shall comply with administrative procedures established by the building official. When submittal documents are incomplete or changed so as to require additional plan review or when the project involves deferred submittal items as defined in Section 106.3.4.2, an additional plan review fee shall be charged at the rate shown on the fee table.
(Ord. 1491 § 3 (part), 2001: Ord. 1412 § 1 (part), 1997)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).
Full Breakdown
County ordinance §15.08.030 amends IBC §108.2 for Salt Lake County: when submittal documents are required, a plan review fee must be paid before the building permit issues, and pools fall under the R-3/U occupancy fee tiers. Where plans for an R-3 or U occupancy, expressly including swimming pools and signs, can be reviewed over the counter under the county's expedited procedure, the building official sets that plan review fee directly rather than the standard percentage-of-permit-fee formula. This confirms a residential pool needs the same permit and plan-review process as other structures in the unincorporated county.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a pool without the required permit and plan review violates §15.08.015's general building-code compliance requirement, the same clause covering unpermitted construction countywide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a residential pool need a building permit in Salt Lake County?
Who sets the pool plan review fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake County
Compare Salt Lake County to another location·View the Utah swimming pools & spas overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.