Vanderburgh County, IN Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)

No building or any part thereof shall be installed, constructed, repaired, or altered without a permit issued by the joint department of building commissioners, and no building permit may be issued until proper approvals have been obtained from the area planning commission and the water and sewer utility department, per Section 15.08.030(A). This general permit requirement covers residential pool construction; the county's fee schedule breaks the charge out specifically under the Pool Permit line of Section 15.08.080(M): $30.00 for a pool with a diameter of 24 feet or less, $50.00 for a pool larger than 24 feet in diameter, and $150.00 for a commercial pool.

The permit card must be displayed in a conspicuous place on the property until the work is finished, and it lapses one year after issuance under Section 15.08.040(B); if construction has not begun within that year, the permit is void and a new one must be purchased. Anyone who starts pool work before pulling the permit is charged triple the normal fee under Section 15.08.040(B), on top of any penalty assessed under Section 15.08.170. Installation must be performed by a licensed Swimming Pool Contractor or Limited Swimming Pool Contractor under the county's Chapter 15.36 licensing scheme.

Public and semipublic pools, such as those at apartment complexes, hotels, and clubs, are regulated separately through the Health Department's annual operating permit under Section 2.40.050, which is distinct from the construction permit covered here.