Winston-Salem, NC Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Winston-Salem, NC, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code § 10-2(a) permit requirement
- Electrical permit fee
- $138.00 under § 10-243(a)(3)
- Permit voids if unstarted
- within 6 months
- Permit voids if halted
- 12 months discontinued
- Enforcing office
- Inspections division
Summary
Winston-Salem requires a building permit before constructing a residential swimming pool, plus a separate electrical permit with its own $138.00 fee, under the city's building regulations chapter enforced by the inspections division.
No person shall commence or proceed with: (1) The construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement to another site, removal or demolition of any building or structure; ... without first securing from the inspections division any and all permits required by the state building code and any other state or local laws applicable to the work.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 10-2(a), no one may commence construction, alteration, or repair of any building or structure in Winston-Salem without first securing a permit from the inspections division, and Sec. 10-1 adopts the North Carolina State Building Code, which governs a pool as a structure subject to that permit. The fee schedule at Sec. 10-243(a)(3) separately lists a $138.00 electrical permit specifically for swimming pools, confirming pools are treated as their own permitted category. Under Sec. 10-2(e), a permit becomes void if work isn't started within six months or is discontinued for 12 months, requiring a new permit and fee before work resumes.
Violations & Fines
Working without the required permit draws a late fee equal to the permit cost plus possible stop-work orders; violating Sec. 10-2 is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a pool in Winston-Salem?
How much does the pool electrical permit cost?
What happens if I build a pool without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winston-Salem
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