Do You Need a Permit to Build a Pool in Little Rock?
Yes. Inside Little Rock city limits, an inground pool needs a building permit from the city’s Building Codes Division, and its electrical and plumbing work is permitted too. The city enforces the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, which requires a barrier at least 48 inches high. Outside the city, Pulaski County or your own city sets the rules.
Quick answer
City of Little Rock: permits go through Planning and Development’s Building Codes Division, 501-371-4832.
Expect more than one permit. The city’s fee schedule lists building, electrical (pool bonding, pool pump) and plumbing items for pools.
The barrier must be at least 48 inches high, with self-closing, self-latching gates that open away from the pool.
Unincorporated areas such as Ferndale go through Pulaski County. Cammack Village has its own permit process.
Check HOA rules, and contact Arkansas 811 before anyone digs. It’s free.
Who issues pool permits in Little Rock?
Inside city limits, construction permits come from the Building Codes Division of the City of Little Rock’s Planning and Development Department. The division handles permits, plan review and inspections for building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. You can reach the permit desk at 501-371-4832, and the city also runs an online permit portal. Zoning questions, such as where a pool can sit on your lot, go to the zoning line at 501-371-4844.
A Little Rock mailing address doesn’t always mean you’re inside city limits. Some homes out west, especially past the edge of the city along the Highway 10 corridor, are in unincorporated Pulaski County. Confirm your jurisdiction before you apply.
Which permits does a pool usually need?
Little Rock’s permit fee ordinance (Ordinance 22,204, passed December 2022) shows the pieces a pool project typically touches:
Building permit. Swimming pools are listed among building permit fees, priced by project valuation with a $50 minimum.
Electrical permit. The electrical schedule has separate line items for pool bonding and pool pumps. Little Rock enforces the 2020 National Electrical Code with local amendments.
Plumbing permit. The plumbing schedule lists a swimming pool item.
Fence and zoning review. Your barrier and the pool’s location on the lot may need review. Ask the city when you apply.
Fees and requirements change, so treat this as a checklist, not a quote. Confirm current fees, required drawings and inspection steps with the city before work starts. Nationally, Angi lists pool permits at $450 to $1,800 and says permitting can take 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the municipality.
What are Little Rock’s pool fence and barrier rules?
Little Rock’s enforced-codes list includes the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC). Its barrier section, Section 305, is written to keep young children away from the water. Key points from the 2021 code:
Height: the top of the barrier must be at least 48 inches above grade, measured on the side away from the pool.
Gaps at the bottom: no more than 2 inches over grass or gravel, or 4 inches over a solid surface like concrete.
Openings: no opening may let a 4-inch sphere pass through.
Gates: pedestrian gates must open outward, away from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and be able to take a lock.
House wall as part of the barrier: if doors or low windows open straight to the pool area, the code requires protection such as listed door and window alarms.
During construction: an inground pool site needs construction fencing at least 4 feet tall from the time digging starts until the permanent barrier is finished.
Those are the code’s minimums. The city can tell you about any local amendments, and your HOA or insurance company may ask for more.
What if you live outside Little Rock city limits?
Unincorporated Pulaski County, including Ferndale: contact Pulaski County Planning and Development at 501-340-8260. The county also administers floodplain development and the Lake Maumelle Watershed regulations, which can apply to properties in the western part of the county.
Cammack Village: it’s its own city, with its own building permit process. Its Ordinance 17-02 covers permits for structures, fences and swimming pools, and the city asks for a building permit application along with an Architectural Design Application. Construction hours are limited, too. City Hall: 501-663-4593.
Not sure which applies? Your county property record will show whether a parcel is inside city limits. Sean can also go over it during the site visit.
Do you need HOA approval for a pool?
If your home is in a neighborhood with covenants or an architectural review committee, which is common in newer subdivisions in West Little Rock and Chenal, you’ll likely need HOA approval too. HOAs can set their own rules on fence style and height, setbacks, equipment placement and construction access. Get HOA approval in writing before you apply for permits, so a design change doesn’t send you back to the city.
Do you need to call 811 before digging a pool?
Yes. Arkansas 811 (formerly Arkansas One Call) must be contacted before any digging, and pool installation is on its list of homeowner projects that need a call. Here’s how it works:
Dial 811 or 1-800-482-8998, or start a ticket online. It’s free.
Utilities have two working days to mark their lines.
Work must start within 10 working days, and the ticket is valid for 20 working days.
Utilities mark only their own lines. Anything behind the meter, such as a line to a detached garage or an irrigation system, is the property owner’s responsibility. A private locating service can mark those for a fee.
How Sunrise Pools helps with permits
Every new build starts with a site visit. Sean walks the yard, looks at where the pool, equipment and fence would go, and goes over what your project will need, from permits and HOA approval to an 811 locate, before anything is scheduled. Sunrise Pools is a licensed Arkansas contractor (license #036926) and builds gunite, fiberglass and vinyl liner pools and plunge pools.
Budgeting too? Fencing and permits belong in the plan. See how much an inground pool costs in Little Rock, or contact us to set up a visit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build an inground pool in Little Rock?
Yes. Inside city limits, an inground pool needs a building permit from the Building Codes Division (501-371-4832), and its electrical and plumbing work is permitted as well. Confirm current requirements and fees with the city before work starts.
How tall does a pool fence have to be in Little Rock?
At least 48 inches. Little Rock enforces the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, which requires a barrier at least 48 inches high, no openings a 4-inch sphere can pass through, and self-closing, self-latching gates that open away from the pool.
Does a plunge pool need a permit?
Plan on it. A plunge pool is still a pool with electrical and plumbing work, so expect the same permit and barrier questions as a larger pool. Ask your city or county what applies to your model and site.
I live in Ferndale. Who issues my pool permit?
Ferndale is unincorporated, so start with Pulaski County Planning and Development at 501-340-8260. The county can tell you which permits apply and whether your property falls under floodplain or Lake Maumelle Watershed rules.
Do I need to call 811 before a pool is dug?
Yes. Contact Arkansas 811 by dialing 811 or 1-800-482-8998. It’s free, and utilities have two working days to mark their lines. Private lines behind the meter aren’t marked.
Does Sunrise Pools handle the permits?
Sean will go over what your project needs during the site visit, including permits, HOA approval and utility locates, and who takes care of each one.
Sources
City of Little Rock: Planning and Development Divisions (Building Codes)
ICC: 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, Chapter 3
Planning a pool project in Little Rock? Get a quote or call 501.246.6789.