Swimming Pools

woman and child in pool In-ground swimming pools and pools requiring permanent electrical connections require a building permit from Wake County Inspections/Development Plans/Permits before installation. A completed application for a residential permit and a site plan showing the pool and its surrounding decking is required. The site plan shall include all of the information listed in Site Plan Requirements. Permits are started and site plans reviewed during your first visit. If a site visit for wastewater system location is not required, a permit may be issued while you wait. Homes served by on-site wastewater systems (septic) require that the location of the Pool does not impact the current wastewater system or its repair area, and maintains the required setbacks. A field consultation fee may be required for this service. The process will begin along with the application for the building permit. A permit will be issued if the pool location meets zoning setbacks and is in compliance with the setbacks from onsite wastewater systems (septic).

A licensed pool contractor is required when the value is over $30,000. A licensed electrical contractor is required for all bonding and wiring.

Required Inspections: Residential pools require electrical inspections only. These involve the bonding of all pool metals, accessories and the rebar in any surrounding concrete pool decking. All connections to lights, pumps and controls are also inspected. An electrical groundwork inspection is scheduled for bonding and wiring to fixtures and pumps. An electrical final is scheduled for the final hookup of all fixtures, pumps and controls. All work is to be in accordance with the current North Carolina edition of the National Electrical Code.

State and county regulations require that all pools must be enclosed by a four-foot high fence with openings no wider than four inches, and self-closing self-latching gates. For further specifications of the fence requirements for any pool see “Section X, Pool Fencing” of the Wake County Environmental Services Regulations Governing the Swimming Pools at the web site listed below. The swimming pool program does not inspect the installation of private pool fences, but responds on a complaint basis.

Additional information on pools is available in our Envrionmental Services Division section of WakeGOV, including regulations, annual swimming operation permits and pool operator certifications. Visit: www.wakegov.com//environment/swimmingpools/

Click here for swimming pool electrical requirements.

A completed application for a residential permit

A site plan meeting all of the specification listed in the Site Plan Requirements

The permit will be issued when all requirements are met and the permit fees are paid.

A preliminary site plan is required before permits are issued. A final (as-built) site plan may be required prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. A good resource for a site plan is a survey issued for a recent mortgage or refinance closing.

The site plan includes the entire lot, drawn to scale, showing:

Lot lines with dimensions and road frontage delineated; existing or proposed driveways, parking spaces and walkways with width and surface-material described.
All existing and proposed buildings or other structures with overall dimensions given and their setback(s) from nearest property lines clearly delineated.
Existing or proposed well, septic tank and drainfield location(s) or sewer and water easements and proposed connection location(s).
All surface waters; FEMA 100-year flood fringe and floodway lines (or approximate 100-year flood line in unnumbered A Zones); flood hazard soils areas (adjust flood hazard soils to Wake County topography or field surveyed low points as appropriate); wetlands; reserved open spaces; the location, dimensions and arrangements of all drainageway, watershed, riparian, and other buffers and their associated required setbacks; the location of any existing or proposed easements (widths listed).
A title block indicating parcel identification number (PIN), north arrow and scale of the site plan, bar scale (for preliminary plans, indicate that it is a preliminary plan), name of Professional Land Surveyor, Landscape Architect, Professional Engineer, the landowner or his authorized agent’s, signature, and for licensed professionals, seal of the person who prepared the plan, date map prepared (and any revision dates).
For as-built final plans, indicate that it is an as-built plan and provide name of the Professional Land Surveyor who prepared the plan, his signature and seal and date map prepared (and any revision dates).
If parcel is less than 5 acres, scales of 1" = 30', 40', 50', 60' or 100' are acceptable.
All existing and proposed impervious surfaces shall be clearly delineated and listed in sq. ft. and as a percentage of the total net lot size listed.
Location, type and relevant dimensions and capacities of stormwater management structures and other devices (if stormwater management is required), plus associated easements (show dimensions).