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Upper Darby, PA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Swimming pool permit rules in Upper Darby, PA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.

Key Facts

Permit required
Yes, for in-ground/private pools
Application fee
$45.50
Additional fee
$20 per $1,000 over $500
Use & occupancy inspection
$40 final inspection
No-permit penalty
Double the permit fee
Enforcing agency
Dept. of Licenses and Inspections

Summary

Upper Darby requires a building permit before installing an in-ground pool or private swimming pool. The Department of Licenses and Inspections charges a $45.50 application fee plus $20 per $1,000 of project value over $500, and a $40 use-and-occupancy inspection fee applies before the pool goes into service.

Repairs, alterations, fire restoration, additions to private dwellings or duplexes (one- or two-family dwellings), porches, porch enclosures, patios, private greenhouses, sheds (residential use), decks, garages, carports, in-ground pools and private swimming pools: (a) Application fee: $45.50. (b) Plus additional fees: [1] $20 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof over $500. [2] Use and occupancy: $40 (final inspection).

Full Breakdown

Under the Township's Department of Licenses and Inspections Fee Schedule, in-ground pools and private swimming pools are grouped with additions, decks, garages, and carports as work requiring a residential building permit. 50, plus additional fees of $20 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof over $500 in project value. A separate use-and-occupancy fee of $40 applies for the final inspection before the pool can be used. Because a swimming pool is a structure requiring its own permit, homeowners cannot fold it into an unrelated building permit; the Code specifies a separate permit is required for each structure on a parcel.

If a contractor or homeowner starts pool construction before the Department issues the permit, the Code imposes a double permit fee: anyone who commences work without first obtaining a permit is subject to paying twice the license fee that would otherwise apply. The Department may also require the applicant to produce a contract or other documentation verifying the estimated project cost so the correct fee tier is applied. 50 Act 45 fee and a $25 administration fee on top of the base permit cost, and inspections beyond the two included per project phase cost an extra $75 each.

Cancelling a scheduled inspection with less than 24 hours' notice, or failing to appear for one, triggers a $100 fee. These fees may be revised by resolution of Township Council from time to time.

Violations & Fines

Building a pool without first securing a Department of Licenses and Inspections permit triggers a double permit fee under § 290-3B(3): the homeowner or contractor must pay twice the standard fee that would have applied had the permit been obtained up front. Missed or late-cancelled inspections add a further $100 charge, and each additional inspection beyond the two built into the fee costs $75.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to install an in-ground pool in Upper Darby?
Yes. The Township's fee schedule lists in-ground pools and private swimming pools among the structures requiring a residential building permit, with a $45.50 application fee plus $20 per $1,000 of value over $500.
What happens if I build a pool before getting a permit?
The Code charges a double permit fee: anyone who commences work without first obtaining the required permit must pay twice the license fee that would otherwise have applied.
Is there a final inspection before I can use a new pool?
Yes. A $40 use-and-occupancy fee covers the final inspection that must be completed before the pool is approved for use.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Upper Darby

All Upper Darby rules

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