Pool permits in Chesterfield, MO
The City of Chesterfield Planning Department must first issue a Municipal Zoning Approval (MZA), which checks the project against the Unified Development Code. You then take the approved MZA to St. Louis County, which Chesterfield contracts to issue building permits and do inspections.
- Permit from
- St. Louis County, after city zoning approval
- Permit fee
- County fee table by project cost, plus $47
- Pool fence
- 48 in. minimum
Permits an inground pool needs in Chesterfield
- Municipal Zoning Approval (MZA) from City of Chesterfield. Required before any construction project. Standard review takes 3-5 business days.
- Swimming pool building permit from St. Louis County. Apply after the MZA is approved; the county does plan review and inspections.
- Fence permit for the pool barrier from City of Chesterfield (MZA) and St. Louis County (permit). A residential fence normally needs no permit if it is under 7 feet, but any fence around a pool, spa or hot tub does need one, and the MZA comes first.
- Fire district approval from Applicable fire protection district. The city says applicants must get any approval their fire district requires through a separate permit. The city does not say whether a residential pool triggers this.
Pool fence and barrier rules in Chesterfield
- Fence height: At least 48 inches above grade for residential pools, measured on the side away from the pool, and maintained for 3 feet horizontally outside the barrier (amended ISPSC 305.2.1)
- Gates: Pedestrian gates must open outward away from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and accept a locking device. If the latch release is less than 54 inches from grade, it must be on the pool side at least 3 inches below the top of the gate, with no openings over 1/2 inch within 18 inches of the release (ISPSC 2015 305.3, not amended locally).
- Doors and windows from the house: Where a house wall forms part of the barrier and doors or windows open directly to the pool, you need one of these: UL 2017 water-hazard entrance alarms on doors and on operable windows with sills under 48 inches, an ASTM F1346 safety cover, or another approved method such as self-closing, self-latching doors (ISPSC 2015 305.4).
- Also required: The barrier can be no more than 2 inches above grass or gravel and no more than 4 inches above concrete. Openings must not pass a 4-inch sphere. The pool side of a residential barrier must be at least 20 inches from the water's edge. ISPSC 305.1 exempts a pool with a powered safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 from the barrier section.
Pool permit fees in Chesterfield
St. Louis County charges by estimated construction cost (SLCRO Table 1100.060, which covers residential swimming pools), plus a $47 permit processing fee. Examples from the table: $284 up to $50,000, $366 up to $70,000, $500 up to $100,000, $704 up to $150,000. The minimum total fee is $124 with plan review, or $171 with plan review and two inspections. Each additional inspection is $47. No city MZA fee for a pool was found.
Other things to know before you dig
- Check with your HOA or subdivision indentures. Some Chesterfield subdivisions have recorded rear-yard setbacks, and the city has denied MZAs for pools that reached into them; past cases went to the Board of Adjustment.
- Corner lots: pool fencing must stay out of the sight-distance triangle at the street intersection.
- Find your zoning district with the city's online zoning map before designing the pool layout.
Codes in use
2015 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code with city amendments (Chesterfield City Code Section 500.008 and Attachment 500h, Ord. 3112, 2020). The amendments match St. Louis County's SLCRO Ch. 1118.
Who to contact
-
City of Chesterfield Planning Department (Planner of the Day)
Municipal Zoning Approval (zoning and setback review), 636-537-4733
-
St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Code Enforcement
Building permit, plan review, inspections (under contract with the city), 314-615-5184
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 (City of Chesterfield)
- Attachment 500h: Amendments to the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2015 Edition (Ord. 3112) (eCode360 (Chesterfield City Code))
- Chesterfield City Code search: Section 500.008 Swimming Pool and Spa Code (eCode360 (Chesterfield City Code))
- SLCRO Chapter 1100, Section 1100.060 Residential Construction Permit Fees (Municode (St. Louis County Revised Ordinances))
- SLCRO Chapter 1118 Swimming Pool and Spa Code (Municode (St. Louis County Revised Ordinances))
- 2015 ISPSC Chapter 3 General Compliance (Sections 305.1-305.4) (ICC)
Get a pool quote in Chesterfield
A local builder handles the permit, inspections and barrier details as part of the job. See what a pool costs in Chesterfield.