Pool permits in Ballwin, MO

Ballwin runs its own building department. The city's Building Commissioner issues the pool building permit, reviews the plans and does the inspections, and the city also issues fence permits. Applications go through the city's MyGov portal.

Permit from: City of Ballwin
Permit fee: $6 per $1,000 of cost ($75 min.), plus an escrow
Pool fence: 4 to 6 ft

Permits an inground pool needs in Ballwin

Swimming pool (family pool) building permit from City of Ballwin Building Commissioner. File an application with four sets of pool plans, specifications and a scaled plot plan. Plans for in-ground pools must bear the seal of a registered architect or of a mechanical or civil engineer (Sec. 26-93, 26-94).
Fence permit from City of Ballwin Building Commissioner. A permit is required to put up or alter any fence, and the required pool fence is no exception. The fee is $45 (Sec. 7-222, 7-223).
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical (e.g. gas heater) permits from City of Ballwin. Plumbing work on a family pool must be done by a licensed journeyman plumber, and electrical work by an electrician licensed by the county (Sec. 26-119, 26-120).
Certificate of swimming pool use from City of Ballwin Building Commissioner. The pool may not be used until the commissioner issues this certificate (Sec. 26-99).

Pool fence and barrier rules in Ballwin

Fence height: Every outdoor family pool must be completely surrounded by a fence at least 4 feet and no more than 6 feet tall (Sec. 26-180).
Gates: All gates or doors through the pool fence need a self-closing, self-latching device at the top, and must be padlocked or otherwise locked when the pool is not in use or is left unattended (Sec. 26-181). The code sets no swing direction.
Doors and windows from the house: The house or an accessory building may form part of the enclosure (Sec. 26-180). Ballwin's own pool chapter does not address door or window alarms.
Also required: No openings, holes or gaps larger than 4 inches in any dimension except at doors and gates, and picket spacing no more than 4 inches. A pool with a deck 4 feet above ground can skip the fence if the railing has no openings over 4 inches and a locking swing-up stairway; a gate in that railing must be self-closing and self-latching at the top. Metal fences or railings near the pool must be grounded.

Pool permit fees in Ballwin

Building permit: $6.00 per $1,000 (or part) of construction cost, $75 minimum, with cost figured from R.S. Means data (Sec. 7-86). In-ground pools also need a cash escrow deposit (Sec. 7-105): 2% of estimated cost above $5,000 with a $500 minimum, or 10% with a $250 minimum when cost is under $5,000. Residential plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits run $75-$175, plus a $30 processing fee. Fence permit $45. A canceled or missed inspection costs $25.

Inspections

Preliminary
Rough
Final

Other things to know before you dig

Pool water (drainage, overflow, backwash, splash-out) must be piped to a public storm water system and may not flow onto neighboring property or cause standing water (Sec. 26-1).
No current-carrying electrical lines may pass over or under the pool or within 10 feet of it (Sec. 26-179).
Ballwin's family-pool chapter has older design rules a pool builder should check: recirculating filter system with 18-hour turnover, 4-foot-wide non-slip walkways around the pool, white or light-colored interior, minimum diving depths, and a ring buoy (Sec. 26-121 to 26-178).
Code text says no building, plumbing or electrical permit for a family pool is issued until the health department approves the plans (Sec. 26-98).
No fences are allowed in the front yard between the right-of-way and the building line, except on certain corner or double-frontage lots (Sec. 7-224).
Disturbing 10,000 square feet or more on private property needs a Site, Land and Grading Permit from Public Works.
A permit expires after 6 months if work has not started, and after 12 months if the job has not passed final inspection (Sec. 7-89).

Codes in use

Ballwin adopted the 2024 IBC, IRC, IPC, IMC, IFGC and IPMC and the 2023 NEC in 2026 (Bill 5057, replacing the 2015 codes and 2014 NEC). Pools are also governed by the city's own Chapter 26 'Swimming Pools' (family pools).

Who to contact

City of Ballwin Building Inspections Department (Code, Inspections, Permits)

Building permit, fence permit, plan review, inspections, 636-227-2129
City of Ballwin Public Works

Excavation permits in the right-of-way; site, land and grading permits, 636-227-9000

Sources

Checked against these official sources in October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the permit office before you sign a contract or break ground.

Building Permits & Occupancy Inspection Information (City of Ballwin)
Bill 5057 - Code Enforcement 2024 LBC Adoption (PDF) (City of Ballwin)
Chapter 26 - Swimming Pools (Municode (City of Ballwin Code of Ordinances))
Chapter 7, Article V - Permits, Fees and Deposits (Municode (City of Ballwin Code of Ordinances))
Chapter 7, Article VIII - Fences (Municode (City of Ballwin Code of Ordinances))
Permits & Site Inspections (City of Ballwin)

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