Southborough, MA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

Section 155-1 of the Southborough bylaws sets one flat rule: no swimming pool or appurtenance thereto shall be constructed, installed, enlarged or altered until a permit has been obtained from the Building Department. The permit step covers four actions, not just new construction: constructing, installing, enlarging and altering. An appurtenance to the pool falls under the same requirement. Chapter 155 itself prints no fee, plan checklist or inspection schedule; the permit comes from the Building Department.

The chapter pairs the permit with an enclosure rule. Under § 155-2(A), all outside or open-air wading or swimming pools, in existence or to be constructed or installed, shall be enclosed and made safe by a fence, wall or other suitable barrier. The fence or other enclosure must be a minimum of four feet in height and otherwise meet with the approval of the Building Inspector. Section 155-2(B) covers pools built totally aboveground whose height would form a natural barrier: they shall have removable stairs and shall not be left unattended with the stairs in position.

Section 155-3 exempts artificial and man-made ponds and portable wading pools less than 24 inches deep and having a surface area of less than 250 square feet. The exemption describes both a depth limit and a surface area limit in the same sentence. Pools that do not fit that description need the permit.

Existing pools were not left out. Section 155-4 required the owner of land with a wading or swimming pool already in existence to erect an enclosure within 90 days from the date the chapter took effect. The chapter was adopted as Article XI, Section 4 of the 1983 Code.

Under § 155-6, the Select Board can grant exceptions to the chapter on petition, after public notice and hearing, in cases where the Board finds the exceptions will not be injurious to the neighborhood or otherwise not detrimental to the public welfare.