With summer upon us, Buena Vista’s Building Department wants you to be aware that the Va. Statewide Building Code requires  a building permit for the construction or installation of an above-ground or in-ground swimming pool which has a surface area greater than 150 square feet, has more than 5,000 gallons of water, and is greater than 24” deep.

In other words, you would not have to get building permit for a swimming pool if the pool was less than 150 square feet of surface area, required less than 5,000 gallons of water, and was less than 24” deep.

You can go to: https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/ISPSC2015 for all applicable code requirements related to the construction of above-ground and in-ground swimming pools.  Also, Chapter 42 of the 2015 Virginia Residential Code has the electrical requirements for swimming pools (https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/VRC2015P2).

Please contact the Buena Vista Building Department at (540) 261-8635 or inspector@bvcity.org with any questions.