Residential Pool and Spa Requirements

A building permit is required for any installation or modification to a residential pool having a capacity of five thousand gallons or more AND a water depth of twenty-four inches or more.

The following items are code requirements that must be complied with for all new and existing pools:

• Permits must be obtained from the city for any work. 
• Swimming pools, pool aprons and pool equipment (pumps, filters, etc.) must conform to required setbacks from the property line. Contact the Inspections Department to see what setback requirements apply to your property.

Application Submittal Requirements:

• Completed building permit application 
• A registered lot survey with the swimming pool and setback information depicted
• Completed swimming pool fence application (if a fence does not already exist) 
• Equipment specifications
• Swimming pool engineering

2024 Minnesota Energy Code Requirements:

R403.9 Pools and Inground Permanently Installed Spas 

• Pools and inground permanently installed spas shall comply with sections R403.9.1 through R403.9.3
• R403.9.1 Heaters. All heaters shall be equipped with a readily accessible on-off switch that is mounted outside of the heater to allow shutting off the heater without adjust­ing the thermostat setting. Gas-fired heaters shall not be equipped with constant burning pilot lights.
• R403.9.2 Time Switches. Time switches or other control method that can automatically turn off and on heaters and pumps according to a preset schedule shall be installed on all heaters and pumps. Heaters, pumps and motors that have built-in timers shall be deemed in compliance with this requirement.
  • Exceptions:
    • Where public health standards require 24-hour pump operation.
    • Where pumps are required to operate solar- and waste-heat-recovery pool heating systems.
• R403.9.3 Covers. Heated pools and inground permanently installed spas shall be provided with a vapor-retardant cover.
  • Exception: Pools deriving over 70 percent of the energy for heating from site-recovered energy, such as a heat pump or solar energy source computed over an operating season.
• R403.12 Photovoltaic Modules and Systems: Installation of photovoltaic modules and systems shall meet the require­ments of Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1315.

Fencing Requirements:

•  A safety fence at least 4’ in height, but no more than 6’ in height shall be constructed to completely enclose a swimming pool.
•  Swimming pools above ground where the sides are at least 4’ in height, a safety fence is not required. Any opening between the fence bottom and the grade or other surface shall not exceed 4”. 
• Pedestrian access gates for pool enclosures shall be self-closing and self-latching. 
• All other service gates shall have lockable hardware and be locked when not in use.