Pool permits in the City of St. Louis

In the independent City of St. Louis, the Building Division (Department of Public Safety) Permit Section takes building permit applications. City staff and agencies review them, including zoning, and the city issues the permit. The Health Department's pool rules cover public and commercial pools, not backyard pools.

Permit from

City of St. Louis Building Division

Permit fee

$25 + $10 per $1,000 over $3,000

Permits an inground pool needs in City of St. Louis

• Building permit (residential swimming pool) from City of St. Louis Building Division. Required for a pool more than 24 inches deep (or with a wall over 30 inches) and 250 sq ft or larger, or any pool with a permanent water-circulating system. Apply online at stlcitypermits.com or in person at City Hall, 1200 Market, Room 425 (5 copies of plans in person). Plans for in-ground pools must be sealed, signed and dated by a Missouri-licensed design professional, and must show distances to lot lines, buildings, walks and fences, plus water supply, drainage and disposal details.
• Fence permit from City of St. Louis Building Division. Every new fence needs a permit. A like-for-like replacement is exempt, except when the fence encloses a pool, hot tub or spa.
• Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits from City of St. Louis Building Division. Separate trade permits. You can enter them during the online building permit application.
• Floodway Development Permit from City of St. Louis. Required for any construction in a designated flood area.

Pool fence and barrier rules in City of St. Louis

• Also required: The city building code says fences around pools follow Section 3109, but the city's rewritten 3109 gives no barrier height or gate rules. Barrier rules come in through the 2018 IRC's reference to the ISPSC. Confirm details with the Building Division. Residential fences may be up to 8 feet along side and rear lines, and no more than 48 inches in front of the building line.

Pool permit fees in City of St. Louis

$25 application fee, paid when you apply, plus a permit fee based on estimated construction cost: $19 up to $1,000; $23 for $1,001-$2,000; $30 for $2,001-$3,000; $10 per $1,000 or fraction over $3,000. The permit fee is due after final approvals. Fees are non-refundable.

How far a pool must be from property lines

The pool wall must be at least 6 feet from any rear or side property line and 10 feet from any street property line. Pools may not encroach on a required front or side yard (city amendment to IBC 3109.1.3). All pools, hot tubs and spas must meet Zoning Ordinance setbacks.

Other things to know before you dig

• All authorities with jurisdiction over swimming pools must approve before the city issues the permit (city IBC 3109.1.1).
• In the 14 historic districts and on landmarks, all fences and exterior changes need Cultural Resources Office approval, even when the building code requires no permit.
• Above-ground pools, hot tubs or spas on a slab, and in-ground pools under 24 inches of water depth with under 250 sq ft of surface area are exempt from a building permit, but must still meet zoning setbacks.
• Display the permit on site during construction.

Codes in use

2018 International Residential Code (Ord. 70795) and 2018 International Building Code (Ord. 70794), both adopted 8-1-2018 with city amendments. Also the 2017 NEC (Ord. 70802) and 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (Ord. 71644). The city lists no separate Swimming Pool and Spa Code adoption. The adopted 2018 IRC (R326.1, not amended by the city) says pools must comply with the ISPSC, and the city rewrote IBC Section 3109 with its own pool rules.

Who to contact

• City of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section

  Building permit applications, routing to plan and zoning review, permit issuance, 314-622-3313

• City of St. Louis Cultural Resources Office

  Approval of fences and exterior work in historic districts and on landmarks, 314-657-3865

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 Permit Application (City of St. Louis)
• Residential Building Permit Criteria (City of St. Louis)
• Adopted City Building Codes (City of St. Louis)
• Ordinance 70794 (2018 IBC with city amendments, incl. Section 3109 and Section 430 Fences) (City of St. Louis)
• Ordinance 70795 (2018 IRC with city amendments) (City of St. Louis)
• 2018 International Residential Code, Section R326 Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs (ICC)
• Swimming Pool Regulations (Health Department, non-residential pools) (City of St. Louis)