Union, NY Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

Pool permits in the Town of Union come from two chapters that work together. Section 300-53.16(A) of the Consolidated Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Union, Village of Johnson City, and Village of Endicott says noncommercial aboveground or in-ground swimming pools can be permitted subject to the issuance of a permit by the Code Enforcement Officer, who certifies compliance with the listed regulations. Section 300-10.4 applies that chapter in the Town of Union outside the Villages of Endicott and Johnson City and inside both villages.

The Code Enforcement Officer's certification covers two things. First, under A(1), all swimming pools must meet the minimum side and rear yard requirements of the district in which they are located. Second, under A(2), a plot plan indicating elevations with dimensions drawn to scale must be submitted for approval. The plot plan must also show the pool dimensions, depth and volume in gallons, the type and size of the filtering system, and the location of the filtering system and motor.

The building permit chapter adds a second layer. Section 86-4(A) requires a building permit from the Code Enforcement Officer for work that must conform to the Uniform Code or the Energy Code, and no person can start that work without it. Section 86-4(B)(2) exempts the installation of swimming pools associated with a one- or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) where the pool is designed for a water depth of less than 24 inches and is installed entirely above ground. A pool that is deeper, or built in the ground, falls outside that exemption.

The zoning definition of a swimming pool also matters for portable units. Under § 300-70.2, portable wading pools two feet or more deep are considered swimming pools. A wading pool at that depth is therefore treated as a pool for the zoning rules, which is the same line as the 24-inch exemption in the building chapter.

Fences tied to a pool follow their own track: § 86-4(B)(3) exempts fences from a building permit only when they are not part of an enclosure surrounding a swimming pool, so the required pool barrier is permit-reviewed work. Barrier specifications are covered on the pool fencing page.