Seattle, WA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Seattle, WA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SMC 22.900D.010, Table D-2 item 17
- Unenclosed R-3 accessory pool fee
- 4x base fee
- Unenclosed non-R-3 or principal pool fee
- 6x base fee
- Standard-plan initial approval fee
- 5x base fee (R-3 accessory)
- Enclosed-building exemption
- No separate fee if inside building plans
Summary
Constructing a residential swimming pool in Seattle requires an SDCI building permit under Table D-2 for SMC 22.900D.010, which sets fees as multiples of the project's base fee: four times base fee for an unenclosed pool accessory to a single-family (Group R-3) home, six times base fee for pools accessory to other occupancies or principal-use pools, and lower multiples for standard-plan reviews.
17. Swimming pools: 4
a. Unenclosed pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancy Base fee × 4
b. Unenclosed pools accessory to occupancies other than Group R-3 Base fee × 6
c. Principal use unenclosed pools Base fee × 6
d. Future construction of an unenclosed swimming pool Base fee × 1
e. Initial approval of standard plan for swimming pool accessory to Group R-3 occupancy Base fee × 5
f. Subsequent review of application based on approved swimming pool standard plan Base fee × 1.5 ... 4 If a swimming pool is located within an enclosed building and is included in the building plans for that building, a separate fee shall not be charged for the swimming pool. The swimming pool area will be considered as floor area of the principal occupancy of the building.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
010). An unenclosed pool accessory to a Group R-3 (single-family residential) occupancy is charged four times the base fee; an unenclosed pool accessory to any other occupancy, or a principal-use unenclosed pool, is charged six times the base fee. 5 times the base fee, and future construction of an unenclosed pool under an already-permitted plan is charged just one times the base fee. Footnote 4 to the table carves out one exception: if the pool sits inside an enclosed building and is already included in that building's plans, no separate swimming pool fee is charged, and the pool area is instead treated as floor area of the building's principal occupancy. B before the balance is due at issuance.
Violations & Fines
Underpaying or lapsing on a pool permit carries its own cost under SMC 22.900D.010: if the fee determined during review comes in above 90 percent of what was paid at application, SDCI halts review until the balance is paid, and a Correction Fee of two times the base fee applies for each additional correction cycle caused by an incomplete response. Letting the permit lapse costs 1.5 times the base fee to reestablish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a building permit to install a pool in my Seattle backyard?
How much does a Seattle pool permit cost?
Is there a cheaper option if I plan to build several identical pools?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
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Pool Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle pool permits.