What's Required in Baltimore
- Building permit for in-ground pools and above-ground pools more than 24 inches deep; prefab pools under 24 inches are exempt (DHCD).
- ePlans plan review for both pool types at one- and two-family homes (DHCD ePlans matrix).
- Fees: $50 pool permit, $125 plan-review application fee, trade lines, and 5% permit tax (BFRCBC 109).
- Barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates that open outward (ISPSC 305 as adopted unchanged by Part XII).
- Construction fencing at least 4 ft high around an in-ground pool excavation until the permanent barrier is done (ISPSC 305.1.1).
- Electrical work under a permit issued to a licensed electrician; plumbing under a licensed master plumber (BFRCBC 2706.2, 2903.3).
- Pool located in the rear yard per the Zoning Code's yard-encroachment table (Table 15-601; Part XII 304.6).
- Floodplain properties get Planning floodplain review; CHAP reviews excavation in historic districts.
Do You Need a Permit for a Pool in Baltimore?
For anything deeper than a wading pool, yes. DHCD's list of work exempt from permit covers only prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep, and even then it tells you to contact the Zoning Department (410-396-4126) about zoning approval. Its permit-category page lists in-ground pools and above-ground pools more than 24 inches deep at one- and two-family homes as permit work, and its ePlans matrix sends both through ePlans plan review. Pools in the city are governed by the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as modified in Part XII of the Building, Fire, and Related Codes, which adopts the barrier sections, 305 to 325, without change.
What Barrier Does a Baltimore Pool Need?
Because Section 305 is adopted as written, the model-code figures apply: the barrier must be at least 48 inches high measured on the outside, with no more than 2 inches of clearance at the bottom over grass or gravel, openings that will not pass a 4-inch sphere, and pedestrian gates that open outward away from the pool and are self-closing and self-latching. While an in-ground pool site is excavated, construction fencing at least 4 feet high must surround it. On location, Part XII says pools must meet the Zoning Code, whose table of yard encroachments lists a swimming pool in the rear yard only.
Baltimore Pool Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Prefabricated or inflatable pool less than 24 inches deep | No building permit; check zoning | DHCD exempt-work list |
| Above-ground pool more than 24 inches deep | $50 + $3 tax + $125 application = $178 | BFRCBC 109.6.1(o), 109.7, 109.5.7 |
| In-ground pool with a water and sewer connection and 3 new circuits | $50 + $30 + $18 = $98, + $5 tax + $125 = $228 | BFRCBC 109.6.1(o), 109.6.3(j), 109.6.2(b) |
| Pump, bonding and lighting wiring | Electrical permit by a licensed electrician | BFRCBC 2706.2; DHCD electrical guidelines |
| Fill and drain lines tied to water and sewer | Plumbing line by a licensed master plumber | BFRCBC 2903.3 |
| Pool in a front or side yard | Not a listed yard encroachment there; ask Zoning | Zoning Code Table 15-601 |
| Pool excavation at a CHAP-district house | CHAP review of the exterior excavation first | City Code Art. 6, 8-2(a)(3) |
How Much Does a Pool Permit Cost?
Section 109 charges a flat $50 for a swimming pool at a one- or two-family dwelling ($250 for all others). Because pools go through ePlans review, the nonrefundable application fee is the plan-review rate of $125 for a one- or two-family dwelling, not $25. Trade lines come from the same schedule: $30 for a private pool connected to a water and sewer line, and $6 for each new electrical circuit. The 5% Building Code Permit Tax is added to the permit fees and rounded up. An above-ground pool more than 24 inches deep comes to $178; an in-ground pool with a water connection and three circuits to about $228. Reinspections cost $50, then $100, then $125.
Who Files and How Long Does It Take?
The owner may apply for the building permit, but the electrical work goes on a permit issued only to a licensed electrician and the plumbing work only to a licensed master plumber, and DHCD says construction on one- and two-family homes requires an MHIC-licensed contractor. File in E-Permits; DHCD then routes the plans for ePlans review. Once the application is in review you can book a free 20-minute meeting with the assigned plans examiner. DHCD does not publish a fixed review time for pools.
How to Get a Pool Permit in Baltimore
Confirm the depth
A prefabricated pool under 24 inches deep needs no building permit. Deeper above-ground and all in-ground pools go through ePlans review.
Plan the site and barrier
Place the pool in the rear yard and design a 48 inch barrier with outward-opening, self-closing, self-latching gates.
Line up licensed trades
A licensed electrician handles pump, bonding and lighting; a licensed master plumber handles any water and sewer connection.
Apply in E-Permits
File the One and Two Family Combo Permit, pay the $125 application fee, and upload plans when DHCD sends ePlans instructions.
Pay, build, inspect
Pay the permit fees and 5% tax at issue, fence the excavation, and schedule rough-in and final inspections in E-Permits.