Pool permits in Webster Groves, MO
The City of Webster Groves handles residential pool permits itself. Its Planning and Development Department does zoning review, plan review, permits and inspections. Permits go only to contractors registered with the city, or to an owner acting as general contractor on the home they live in.
- Permit from
- City of Webster Groves
- Permit fee
- $30 + $6 per $1,000 of value, plus review and inspection fees
- Pool fence
- 48 in. minimum
Permits an inground pool needs in Webster Groves
- Swimming pool / hot tub building permit from City of Webster Groves. Needed to build, alter or relocate a pool, hot tub or swim spa. Submit the application, a signed contract or scope of work showing cost, a current boundary survey (the application says Real Property Reports are not accepted), a scaled site plan showing the pool and equipment, manufacturer and equipment specs, suction-entrapment documentation, a barrier/fence plan, an electrical bonding diagram, a flatwork plan and a stormwater mitigation plan. The application asks for 2 sets of residential plans.
- Fence permit from City of Webster Groves. Required for a new fence. The city will not issue the pool permit until a fence permit meeting the safety-barrier rules is approved. An existing fence has to be shown to meet the same rules.
- Electrical permit from City of Webster Groves. Separate permit, needed for pool bonding and wiring.
- Mechanical permit from City of Webster Groves. Needed for fuel-fired appliances such as a gas pool heater.
- Stormwater mitigation permit from City of Webster Groves. Separate permit. The work must be done by a registered drainlayer.
- Tree permit or tree permit waiver from City of Webster Groves. Required if you have owned or occupied the home for less than 12 months.
Pool fence and barrier rules in Webster Groves
- Fence height: At least 48 inches, measured on the outside of the barrier (city pool guide).
- Gates: Gates must open away from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and take a locking device. A latch release lower than 54 inches above grade goes on the pool side, at least 3 inches below the top of the gate, and no opening within 16 inches of the latch may exceed 1/2 inch (as drawn in the city guide). Utility and service gates must stay locked when not in use.
- Doors and windows from the house: Doors and windows that open directly onto the pool area must be protected by an alarm, a safety cover, or self-closing, self-latching doors (city guide).
- Also required: Openings must not let a 4-inch sphere pass through. The barrier must be at least 20 inches from the inside face of the barrier to the water. The rules apply to outdoor pools and spas that can hold water more than 24 inches deep. A temporary safety barrier must be kept up from excavation until the permanent barrier passes inspection.
Pool permit fees in Webster Groves
$40 plan review fee, paid when you apply. Building permit fee is $30 plus $6 per $1,000 of improvement value, with a $35 minimum, plus $40 per inspection. Electrical and mechanical permits are each $40 plan review plus $6 per $1,000 of improvement value ($35 minimum) and $40 per inspection. Fence permit is $40. The final pool permit fee is set after plan review. Starting work before you have a permit doubles all fees. A completion deposit applies to exterior projects over $20,000 (amount not published).
How far a pool must be from property lines
Pools and spas must meet the zoning code's accessory-structure setbacks (Code sec. 24.0030, ISPSC 301.2 as amended). Pools do not count toward accessory-structure lot coverage. The setback distances themselves were not confirmed.
Inspections
- Footing
- Foundation
- Electrical bonding
- Final
- Request inspections at least 24 hours ahead at 314-963-5331.
Other things to know before you dig
- Planning and Development does zoning review. Historic-district properties may also need Architectural Review Board approval.
- In the 2015 IRC as adopted by the city, prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep or under 250 sq ft of surface area need no permit.
- Permits are issued only to city-registered contractors, or to an owner acting as general contractor on a home they live in.
- Keep the street and sidewalk free of mud. Dirt, gravel and dumpsters may not sit in the public right-of-way without approval from Public Works.
- The application asks whether the work is inside the 100-year floodplain.
Codes in use
2015 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code with city amendments (Code ch. 24, Ord. 9104, 2019), plus the 2015 IRC and 2015 IBC (Code ch. 20). Note: the city's 2026 Residential Swimming Pool Guide cites the 2021 ISPSC for barriers and suction entrapment, while the online municipal code (codified through Nov. 2024) still shows the 2015 edition.
Who to contact
-
City of Webster Groves, Department of Planning and Development
Zoning review, pool building permit, plan review, inspections, 314-963-5331
-
City of Webster Groves, City Hall customer service
General permit questions (4 E. Lockwood Ave.), 314-963-5300
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.
- Pool and Hot Tub (City of Webster Groves)
- Webster Groves Residential Swimming Pool Guide (2026) (City of Webster Groves)
- Application for Pool/Hot Tub Permit (rev. 9/22/2021) (City of Webster Groves)
- Permits (City of Webster Groves)
- Code of Ordinances, Part III, Chapter 24 Swimming Pools and Chapter 20 International Codes (Municode (City of Webster Groves Code))
Get a pool quote in Webster Groves
A local builder handles the permit, inspections and barrier details as part of the job. See what a pool costs in Webster Groves.