Waukegan, IL Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Waukegan, IL, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Building Permit in residential districts
- Location
- Rear yard only
- Aboveground height cap
- 6 feet maximum
- Structure clearance
- 3 feet minimum (except deck/patio)
- Utility clearance
- 5 ft buried / 10 ft aerial lines
- Lot coverage
- Counts toward 40% accessory-structure cap
Summary
A building permit is required for any Swimming Pool or Hot Tub in Waukegan's residential districts, and Section 9.03.C.36 caps aboveground pools at six feet in height, requires a three-foot gap from other structures, and counts the pool toward the 40 percent accessory-structure lot coverage limit.
36.Swimming Pool or Hot Tub. The following standards apply to swimming pools and hot tubs, with a depth equal to or greater than two feet.a.Location. Swimming pools and hot tubs are allowed in the rear yard.b.Height. Aboveground swimming pools and hot tubs may not exceed six feet in height.c.Distance from Other Structures. A swimming pool or hot tub must be a minimum of three feet from any other structure or building on a zoning lot, with the exception of a permanent deck or patio. A swimming pool must be at least five feet from any buried utility lines or cables and 10 feet from any aerial utility lines or cables, as verified by the Zoning Administrator.d.Minimum Lot Coverage. Swimming pools and hot tubs are counted towards the 40 percent lot coverage limit for accessory structures.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
03-1 Accessory Uses and Structures marks "Swimming Pool or Hot Tub" with a "BP" designation in the CR district, all five residential districts (R1 through R5), the B4, E, and L1 through L3 districts; the B1, B2, B3, H/C, R/LI, and I columns are blank, meaning pools are not an allowed accessory use in those non-residential, industrial-facing districts at all. 36 applies to any swimming pool or hot tub with a depth of two feet or more. It confines pools and hot tubs to the rear yard, caps aboveground units at six feet in height, and requires at least three feet of clearance from any other structure or building on the lot (a permanent deck or patio is exempt from that clearance rule).
Utility clearance is more specific still: a pool must sit at least five feet from any buried utility line or cable and 10 feet from any aerial utility line or cable, both verified by the Zoning Administrator before the permit issues. 5, meaning a large pool can leave little room for any other shed, deck, or paved surface in that yard. The City's adoption of the 2021 International Residential Code under Section 6-401, with local amendments under Section 6-402, governs the pool's structural and barrier requirements once the building permit is filed.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a pool or hot tub without the building permit Table 9.03-1 requires, placing it outside the rear yard, exceeding the six-foot aboveground height cap, or violating the three-foot structure clearance or the five-foot/10-foot utility clearances in Section 9.03.C.36 are each independent zoning violations the Building Commissioner can act on, including requiring removal or relocation of the pool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a pool in my Waukegan backyard?
How tall can an above-ground pool be in Waukegan?
How close can a Waukegan pool be to underground utility lines?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
Compare Waukegan to another location·View the Illinois swimming pools & spas overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.