St. Lucie County, FL Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in St. Lucie County, FL, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Covered depth
- Water over 24 inches deep
- Statute
- FS 515.29(2)
- Pool wall as barrier
- Allowed if 515.29-compliant
- Ladder
- Securable, lockable, or removable
- Permit
- Building permit required
Summary
In St. Lucie County an above-ground pool holding water over 24 inches deep is regulated exactly like an in-ground pool. Its own wall can serve as the barrier if it meets FS 515.29, and any ladder or steps must be lockable, securable, or removable.
Where the pool structure is used as the barrier or where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or steps, the ladder or steps must be capable of being secured, locked, or removed to prevent access.
Full Breakdown
Florida Statute 515 defines a swimming pool to include aboveground and on-ground pools, so St. Lucie County treats them as residential pools requiring a permit and a compliant barrier. Under 515.29(2), the pool structure itself may act as the barrier if it satisfies the height and no-climb standards. Where access is by a ladder or steps, that access must be capable of being secured, locked, or removed to prevent a child from reaching the water. If the ladder cannot be secured, a separate 4-foot barrier must surround it. A building permit is still required.
Violations & Fines
An above-ground pool left with an unsecured ladder or lacking a required safety feature is a code violation and a second-degree misdemeanor under FS 515.27, subject to correction orders and fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an above-ground pool need a fence?
Is a soft-sided or inflatable pool included?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Lucie County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Lucie County to another location·View the Florida swimming pools & spas overview
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