Building a Pool in Pinal County: SaddleBrooke and Oracle
Short answer: SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch and Oracle are unincorporated Pinal County, so Pinal County Building Safety issues the pool permit, not Pima County or Oro Valley. A pool permit typically costs about $350 based on Omni permit receipts. Pinal County requires a 60 inch barrier measured on the outside, per its Bulletin 010, and the final pool inspection must pass before the pool is filled. The ground is the hard part: caliche about 16 inches down at SaddleBrooke and shallow bedrock about 12 to 15 inches down near Oracle. SaddleBrooke HOA #2 reviews pools for a $30 fee, issues most permits within 7 business days and requires no performance bond. A typical custom pool from Omni runs $65,000 to $200,000; see what a pool costs in Tucson.
Last checked: November 2026. County rules were checked against Pinal County bulletins and pages. HOA rules were checked against the HOAs’ own published guidelines. Soil points come from USDA. Costs marked approximate are rounded from Omni records, not set fees or quotes.
Pinal County pool facts
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues the permit | Pinal County Community Development, Building Safety Division, for SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch and Oracle | Pinal County applications |
| Typical pool permit cost (approximate) | About $350 | Pinal County pool permit application |
| Barrier height | At least 60 inches above finished grade, measured on the outside. Gap under the barrier up to 2 inches over grade, 4 inches over a solid surface | Pinal County Bulletin 010 |
| Openings | No opening passes a 4 inch sphere. Chain link wire at least 11 gauge. Livestock “no climb” fence does not comply | Pinal County Bulletin 010 |
| Gates | 60 inches, self-closing, self-latching, swing away from the pool. The County bulletin’s latch numbers are less strict than state law, so we build to the state numbers | Bulletin 010; A.R.S. 36-1681 |
| House doors | Where the house is part of the barrier, one of: self-closing, self-latching doors with the release at least 54 inches up; a listed door alarm; a freestanding 48 inch intermediate barrier; pet doors made permanently unusable | Pinal County Bulletin 010 |
| Covers | A pool cover is not an approved barrier. A spa 8 feet wide or less can use a qualifying safety cover instead | Pinal County Bulletin 010 |
| Inspections | Pre-gunite (excavation, setbacks, steel, plumbing under test, bonding) and final. The final must pass before the pool is filled | Pinal County Bulletin 017A |
| Septic | Pool excavation at least 5 feet from the septic system; septic 10 feet from buildings and 100 feet from wells | Pinal County septic setback form |
| Backwash and draining | Backwash soaks in on your property. Before draining: chlorine 1 ppm or less, pH 7 to 8, clear water. Off-property only to a wash, drainage channel or paved street gutter. No acid wash water off the property | Pinal County Bulletin 010 |
| Floodplain | A floodplain use permit from the County Flood Control District is required for development in a floodplain; often 2 to 5 weeks for a single-family lot | Pinal County floodplain permitting |
| Soil at SaddleBrooke | Selevin-Tombstone-Saddlebrook complex: hard caliche at about 16 inches (8 to 20 inches in the series), high shrink-swell on some soils | USDA Saddlebrook soil series |
| Soil near Oracle | Turquoise-Nugget-Rock outcrop complex: soft bedrock at about 12 to 15 inches, 20 percent rock outcrop, 5 to 45 percent slopes | USDA Soil Data Access |
| Electric utility | Trico Electric Cooperative serves the SaddleBrooke area | Trico Electric |
Pinal County, not Pima County
SaddleBrooke addresses often read Tucson or Oracle, and SaddleBrooke sits right next to Oro Valley and Catalina, which are in Pima County. In our experience, that is where barrier details and permit applications go to the wrong office. Census data and the HOA geography place SaddleBrooke and Eagle Crest Ranch in Pinal County, and SaddleBrooke Ranch geocodes to Pinal. Pinal requires 60 inches; do not carry an unincorporated Pima County 48 inch detail across the county line.
Permit and fees
| Item | Typical cost (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Pool permit, Pinal County | About $350 |
| SaddleBrooke HOA #2 ALC review, major project including a pool | $30 (HOA fee), valid for a 180 day permit, $15 per 90 day extension |
These are rounded figures from years of Omni permit receipts, not set fees. The actual permit cost moves with pool size, a gas line, added inspections and plan review time, and every jurisdiction updates its fee schedule. Your proposal lists the permit cost for your property.
Soil, rock and caliche
This is the hardest digging we do. At SaddleBrooke the USDA maps a hard caliche layer about 16 inches down, and some of the soils there have high shrink-swell. Near Oracle soft bedrock sits about 12 to 15 inches down, with rock outcrop on a fifth of the ground and steep slopes. Rock and caliche are priced from the site visit, and sloped lots can need retaining walls.
Every Omni pool shell starts at 6 by 12 inch steel spacing with #3 bar, and we go to 6 by 6 spacing on poor ground, with an automatic cover or on a long pool. A licensed engineer sets the final reinforcement. See pool steel and shell thickness and who pays for the soil report.
Site costs that can apply
| Item | Typical cost (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Narrow gate or side yard access | $2,000 to $6,000 |
| Extra depth, each added 6 inches | Up to about $500 |
| Haul-off, per load | $500 to $1,500 |
| Soils report review, or a radar test with an observation letter | About $500 to $1,000 |
| Tile crew trip to Oracle, per job | About $500 |
Ranges are rounded up from Omni’s 2026 pricing and are estimates, not quotes. Rock and caliche are priced from the site visit.
SaddleBrooke HOAs
| HOA | What to know |
|---|---|
| SaddleBrooke HOA #2 | Architectural and Landscaping Committee permit required, with Pinal County permits, photos, plans and two copies of drawings to scale. No ALC permit is issued until the County permits are in hand. Review fee $30 for a major project including a pool. Most permits within 7 business days of a complete application. No performance bond. Above-ground pools are prohibited, pump equipment is screened by a stuccoed block wall, materials stay on the owner’s lot, and a dumpster needs a permit from the General Manager |
| SaddleBrooke HOA #1 (SaddleBrooke One) | ALC permit required; homeowners attend an ALC meeting on the 1st or 3rd Thursday. Review fee not published. HOA review required; contact the HOA for current submittal rules |
| SaddleBrooke Ranch | HOA review required; contact the HOA for current submittal rules |
| Oracle | Depends on the subdivision. If an HOA applies, HOA review required; contact the HOA for current submittal rules |
What surprises people in Pinal County
- The County gate bulletin is less strict than state law on two numbers. We build to state law.
- A pool cover does not replace the barrier.
- The final inspection has to pass before the pool is filled.
- A Tucson or Oracle mailing address does not mean Pima County.
We keep 36 inches of clear working space in front of the pool equipment. That is our standard, not a code rule.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues pool permits in SaddleBrooke and Oracle?
Pinal County Building Safety. SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch and Oracle are unincorporated Pinal County, not Pima County or Oro Valley, even when the mailing address says Tucson.
How much is a pool permit in Pinal County?
About $350, based on years of Omni permit receipts. It is a rounded figure, not a set fee, and your proposal lists the permit cost for your property.
How tall does a pool fence have to be in SaddleBrooke?
At least 60 inches above finished grade, measured on the outside, per Pinal County Bulletin 010. Gates self-close and self-latch and swing away from the pool.
What does SaddleBrooke HOA #2 require for a pool?
An Architectural and Landscaping Committee permit, issued after the County permits, with a $30 review fee for a major project including a pool. Most permits are issued within 7 business days of a complete application, and no performance bond is required.
Is there rock or caliche in SaddleBrooke and Oracle?
Yes. The USDA maps hard caliche about 16 inches down at SaddleBrooke and soft bedrock about 12 to 15 inches down near Oracle, with rock outcrop. Excavation is priced from the site visit.
Can a pool cover replace the fence in Pinal County?
Not for a pool. Bulletin 010 does not accept a pool cover as a barrier. A spa 8 feet wide or less can use a qualifying safety cover.
What does a custom pool cost in SaddleBrooke?
A typical custom pool from Omni runs $65,000 to $200,000. Caliche or bedrock, slope, access and travel are the site items that move the number most.
Related reading
- What a pool costs in Tucson and how to choose a builder
- Pool permit requirements in Pinal County
- SaddleBrooke and Eagle Crest Ranch pool permits
- Which authority permits my community
- Omni in SaddleBrooke
- Glass pool fencing in Pinal County, built to the barrier rules above
- Pool removal and demolition in Pinal County, with the permit pulled
Call (520) 222-8503 or request a design consultation.