Scranton, PA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Scranton, PA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Pools triggering the rule
- 18 in. deep or 72 sq. ft. or larger
- Fence height
- At least 4 feet
- Max fence gap
- 2 inches
- Setback from side/rear line
- 10 feet
- Front yard pools
- Prohibited
- Inspection fee
- 0.825% of construction cost, $41.25 min
Summary
Scranton's zoning code requires outdoor pools 18 inches deep or 72 square feet or larger to be built to Uniform Construction Code standards, fenced at least four feet high with self-latching gates, and kept out of the front yard and within 10 feet of any side or rear lot line. A construction permit and inspection fee also apply under Chapter 203.
All outdoor swimming pools and impoundments of water 18 inches in depth or greater with a surface area of 72 square feet or greater shall be properly fenced so as to not become a hazard to any person. The top of such fence or wall shall be at least four feet above the ground. No opening in the fence or wall shall be larger than two inches in width, and all gates shall close with self-catching latches. ... Swimming pools shall be designed and constructed to the applicable standards of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC). ... No outdoor swimming pool may be located in any front yard setback area. No part of the pool shall be located within 10 feet of the side or rear lot line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4719898; v25 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 445-33 of the Zoning Code governs residential pools directly: any outdoor swimming pool or impoundment of water 18 inches deep or more, with a surface area of 72 square feet or more, must be properly fenced so it cannot become a hazard, with the fence or wall at least four feet above ground, no gap wider than two inches, and gates that close with self-catching latches. The pool itself must be designed and constructed to the applicable standards of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, and no part of an outdoor pool may sit in a front yard setback or within 10 feet of a side or rear lot line.
25 minimum inspection rate. Because a pool is a structure under the UCC, the general permit trigger in § 203-7B, covering construction of a structure or land development, applies before excavation or installation begins, and the site plan submitted with the application must show the pool's location relative to the lot lines the zoning setback governs.
Violations & Fines
Building or maintaining a pool in violation of the zoning setback, fencing or UCC-construction standards is enforced under § 445-77: the City sends a written enforcement notice describing the violation and a compliance deadline, appealable to the Zoning Hearing Board, and an owner found liable in a civil enforcement proceeding faces a judgment of up to $500 plus court costs and attorney fees, with each continuing day a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Scranton require a fence around a residential pool?
How close to my property line can I build a pool in Scranton?
Do I need a permit to install a pool in Scranton?
What building code applies to pool construction in Scranton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scranton
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