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Pool permit and fence requirements in Pima County, Arizona

Posted
Updated
ByAaron Baker

Pima County has 6 pool permitting authorities. The required pool fence height is 48 or 60 inches depending on which authority issues the permit. The code calls it a barrier.

Every figure below was verified against that authority’s own adopted ordinance. Entries that could not be confirmed are stated as unconfirmed rather than estimated.

Pima County is the only place in Southern Arizona where the 48 inch figure is still real, and it is real in exactly one of its six permitting authorities. Unincorporated Pima County requires 48 inches. Tucson, South Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita all require 60. The City of Tucson moved to 60 inches on January 1, 2026 under Ordinance 12171, so the 48 inch figure no longer applies inside the city limits. South Tucson reaches 60 through a nuisance ordinance rather than a building code. A design that clears in unincorporated Pima County fails the moment the lot sits inside a town or city boundary.

Every permitting authority in Pima County

Authority Pool fence height Code edition Ordinance or code cite
City of South Tucson 60 in 2018 Ord. 25-01 Sec. 101.4.10 (2018 IBC family); City Code Ch. 7 Sec. 7-13(G)(3)
City of Tucson 60 in 2024 Tucson Code Sec. 6-191; Ord. 12171 Exh. G
Town of Marana 60 in 2024 Marana Town Code 7-1-2; Ord. 2025.013, adopted 2025-06-17, eff. 2025-07-18; amendments are
Town of Oro Valley 60 in 2024 Town Code 6-5-1; Ord. (O)25-05, ordinance eff. 2025-09-03; 2024 codes apply to application
Town of Sahuarita 60 in 2024 Sahuarita Ord. No. 2026-197, eff. 2026-07-01; 2024 ISPSC Amendments
Unincorporated Pima County 48 in 2024 PC Code 15.04.020(A)(11); Ord. 2025-15 Exh. J

Stated plainly for Pima County: City of South Tucson requires 60 inches; City of Tucson requires 60 inches; Town of Marana requires 60 inches; Town of Oro Valley requires 60 inches; Town of Sahuarita requires 60 inches; Unincorporated Pima County requires 48 inches.

City of South Tucson

City of South Tucson has adopted the 2018 edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, at Ord. 25-01 Sec. 101.4.10 (2018 IBC family); City Code Ch. 7 Sec. 7-13(G)(3).

The required pool fence height is 60 inches, measured on the side of the fence facing away from the pool. The code calls this a barrier. The dimension has to hold around the entire perimeter and for 3 feet measured horizontally out from the outside face, which is why grade fall-off on a sloped lot is the usual reason a wall that measured correctly at layout fails inspection.

The fence stands at least 20 inches back from the water’s edge.

Horizontal members on the outside face sit not less than 45 inches apart vertically, so the fence cannot be climbed like a ladder.

No opening in the fence may pass a 4 inch sphere.

Chain link mesh is limited to 1.75 inches.

Resolves to 60 by either route. Ord. 25-01 was adopted 2025-04-15, which forecloses A.R.S. 36-1681(D)(5). If its Exhibit I sets 60, the answer is 60. If Exhibit I leaves the 48 inch ISPSC base in place, (D)(6) is failed and the statute gives 60. Audited 2026-09-15.

City of Tucson

City of Tucson has adopted the 2024 edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, at Tucson Code Sec. 6-191; Ord. 12171 Exh. G.

The required pool fence height is 60 inches, measured on the side of the fence facing away from the pool. The code calls this a barrier. The dimension has to hold around the entire perimeter and for 3 feet measured horizontally out from the outside face, which is why grade fall-off on a sloped lot is the usual reason a wall that measured correctly at layout fails inspection.

The fence stands at least 20 inches back from the water’s edge.

Horizontal members on the outside face sit not less than 45 inches apart vertically, so the fence cannot be climbed like a ladder.

No opening in the fence may pass a 4 inch sphere.

Chain link mesh is limited to 1.75 inches.

Corrected from 48 to 60 on 2026-09-15. Tucson Code Ch. 6 Art. IX, the Swimming Pool and Spa Code, has three sections and none of them states a barrier height. The only pool text in the adopting ordinance is Ord. 12171 Exhibit G, which revises ISPSC 305.2 and 304 and carries no height figure. The adoption is effective 2026-01-01, so A.R.S. 36-1681(D)(6) is the operative test and the 48 inch ISPSC base cannot satisfy it. The statutory 60 inches governs.

Town of Marana

Town of Marana has adopted the 2024 edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, at Marana Town Code 7-1-2; Ord. 2025.013, adopted 2025-06-17, eff. 2025-07-18; amendments are Exhibit J to Resolution 2025-067.

The required pool fence height is 60 inches, measured on the side of the fence facing away from the pool. The code calls this a barrier. The dimension has to hold around the entire perimeter and for 3 feet measured horizontally out from the outside face, which is why grade fall-off on a sloped lot is the usual reason a wall that measured correctly at layout fails inspection.

The fence stands at least 20 inches back from the water’s edge.

Horizontal members on the outside face sit not less than 45 inches apart vertically, so the fence cannot be climbed like a ladder.

No opening in the fence may pass a 4 inch sphere.

Chain link mesh is limited to 1.75 inches.

Town of Oro Valley

Town of Oro Valley has adopted the 2024 edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, at Town Code 6-5-1; Ord. (O)25-05, ordinance eff. 2025-09-03; 2024 codes apply to applications submitted on or after 2026-01-01.

The required pool fence height is 60 inches, measured on the side of the fence facing away from the pool. The code calls this a barrier. The dimension has to hold around the entire perimeter and for 3 feet measured horizontally out from the outside face, which is why grade fall-off on a sloped lot is the usual reason a wall that measured correctly at layout fails inspection.

The fence stands at least 20 inches back from the water’s edge.

Horizontal members on the outside face sit not less than 45 inches apart vertically, so the fence cannot be climbed like a ladder.

No opening in the fence may pass a 4 inch sphere.

Chain link mesh is limited to 1.75 inches.

Zoning setback, side and rear: 5 rear / side per zone (see ahj_resolve.py) ft, per OV ZC 25.2.F; district yards Table 23-2A s.23.4; ESOS 27.10.F.3.b. Read the datum: authorities in this region measure to different things, some to the pool structure and some to the edge of water.

Town of Sahuarita

Town of Sahuarita has adopted the 2024 edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, at Sahuarita Ord. No. 2026-197, eff. 2026-07-01; 2024 ISPSC Amendments.

The required pool fence height is 60 inches, measured on the side of the fence facing away from the pool. The code calls this a barrier. The dimension has to hold around the entire perimeter and for 3 feet measured horizontally out from the outside face, which is why grade fall-off on a sloped lot is the usual reason a wall that measured correctly at layout fails inspection.

The fence stands at least 20 inches back from the water’s edge.

Horizontal members on the outside face sit not less than 45 inches apart vertically, so the fence cannot be climbed like a ladder.

No opening in the fence may pass a 4 inch sphere.

Chain link mesh is limited to 1.75 inches.

Zoning setback, side and rear: 4 ft, per Town pool and spa permit submittal checklist (DocumentCenter 9606). Read the datum: authorities in this region measure to different things, some to the pool structure and some to the edge of water.

Unincorporated Pima County

Pima County Development Services, not the City of Tucson or the towns, issues pool permits in unincorporated Pima County. Pima County requires a pool barrier at least 48 inches tall, measured from the outside, the side away from the pool. Pima County accepts a listed door alarm on doors from the house to the pool area, where the Town of Oro Valley requires an automatic door closer. Pima County requires a cover that limits evaporation on every new and remodeled outdoor pool, spa and hot tub before final inspection. Pima County requires pool equipment at least 4 feet from the barrier and the pool at least 4 feet from any side or rear property line. On Omni’s unincorporated Pima County jobs, the permit and plan review has cost $300 to $450, and plan review has typically taken 8 to 10 business days.

Last checked: November 2026. Pima County rules were checked against Pima County Development Services pages and the Pima County 2024 pool code amendments on November 5, 2026. Costs are from Omni’s own Pima County jobs and pricing, not Pima County figures, except where a Pima County fee is named.

Pima County pool permit facts

Requirement What Pima County requires Typical cost Source
Who issues the permit Pima County Development Services, for addresses in unincorporated Pima County See permit fee Pima County Custom Pools page
Adopted code 2024 ISPSC, 2024 IRC and 2023 NEC with Pima County amendments, effective January 1, 2026 (Ordinance 2025-15) None Pima County codes and local amendments
Permit and plan review fee No separate pool line in the Pima County fee schedule; $69 base fee on every permit that needs an inspection $300 to $450 (Omni jobs, 2022 to 2026) Pima County Development Services fees
Plan review time Typically 8 to 10 business days on Omni’s Pima County pool permits; Pima County posts its own review turnaround goals Included in the permit fee Pima County review turnaround times
Barrier height At least 48 inches, measured from the outside, the side away from the pool; no more than 2 inches between grade and the bottom of the barrier Depends on the wall or fence Pima County barrier page
Gates Open outward, self-closing, self-latching; a release under 54 inches from the bottom of the gate goes on the pool side, at least 3 inches below the top Depends on the gate Pima County barrier page
Doors and windows from the house A UL 2017 listed alarm, or self-closing, self-latching doors with the latch at least 54 inches above the floor Door alarm accepted; self-closing hardware runs about $600 to $1,000 more than an alarm Pima County barrier page
Powered safety cover A pool with a powered safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is exempt from the barrier requirements on the Pima County barrier page Depends on the pool size Pima County barrier page
Evaporation cover Required on new and remodeled outdoor pools, spas and hot tubs before final inspection approval About $330 up to 300 sq ft, about $440 for 301 to 600 sq ft (Omni price) Pima County ISPSC amendments 303.4
Side and rear setback At least 4 feet from any side or rear property line; front yard set by the zone A survey if the property corners are not marked Pima County Code 18.07.030(D)(1)(a)
Equipment distance Pool equipment at least 4 feet from a required barrier or enclosure None added Pima County Custom Pools page
Footings and retaining walls No part of the pool structure within a 45 degree angle of the bottom of any footing; walls within a 3 to 1 slope of the pool shown on the plans Engineering is part of the plan set Pima County Custom Pools page
Septic system Septic system shown on the site plan; Arizona rule sets at least 5 feet from the pool excavation, more where soil loading or stability calls for it None added Pima County Custom Pools page; A.A.C. R18-9-A312(C)
Floodplain Floodplain use permit from the Pima County Regional Flood Control District before construction in a regulatory floodplain or erosion hazard area No permit fee on Omni’s jobs; raising the pool equipment on an 18 inch block platform usually adds about $700 to $1,500 Pima County Regional Flood Control District permits
Grading No grading permit for pool excavation under a building permit; Type I grading permit at 14,000 sq ft graded, a 15 percent slope, or a cut or fill over 5 feet and steeper than 3 to 1 $66 Type I grading permit fee (Pima County fee) Pima County grading requirements
Electrical Plans show the existing service size, pool circuit size, panel schedule and bonding grid; separate electrical upgrade permit if the panel is too small If an upgrade permit is needed: $27 minor electrical work fee plus the $69 base fee (Pima County fees) Pima County Custom Pools page
Backwash and draining water Kept on the owner’s property or discharged under Pima County wastewater guidance; filter backwash never to streets or washes None added Pima County ISPSC amendments 321.1
Re-inspections Charged for each item that is not ready or not corrected when the inspector arrives $69 per re-inspection (Pima County fee) Pima County inspection procedure; fees

Who issues the permit

Pima County Development Services reviews plans and inspects pools in unincorporated Pima County. The City of Tucson, the City of South Tucson and the Towns of Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita issue their own pool permits. Unincorporated communities such as Casas Adobes, the Catalina Foothills, Catalina, Tanque Verde, Vail, Green Valley, Picture Rocks and Corona de Tucson are permitted by Pima County. Check which authority covers your address.

Since January 1, 2026, Pima County has applied the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, the 2024 International Residential Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code, with its own amendments. The Pima County pool code amendments are Exhibit J to Ordinance 2025-15. The online codified text of Pima County Code 15.04.020 still lists the 2018 codes, and the Pima County barrier page still cites the 2018 pool code. The Pima County Development Services code page lists the 2024 codes as current.

Source: Pima County building permits resources, codes and local amendments; Pima County 2024 ISPSC amendments, Ordinance 2025-15 Exhibit J; Pima County Code 15.04.020. Related: Oro Valley pool permit requirements and costs.

What Pima County asks for in the plans

Pima County requires a PDF set of construction drawings and a PDF of sealed structural calculations. The Pima County cover sheet lists the plan index, code edition, job address and the surface area of the pool and spa. The Pima County site plan shows setbacks from the property lines to the pool and existing construction, and the location of the pool equipment, the septic system and the grading limits. Pima County requires the plans to show the type of barrier. Pima County requires the plans to identify every retaining wall that supports the pool or sits within a 3 to 1 slope of the pool. Pima County requires the heater type, the plumbing pipe type and size, and manufacturer sheets for the pumps, filters and heaters. Pima County warns that a project may need prior approval from the Regional Flood Control District, the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department, the Department of Environmental Quality or the Department of Transportation.

Source: Pima County Custom Pools submittal requirements. Related: pool structure and engineering standards; who is responsible for the soil report.

Permit fee

The Pima County Development Services fee schedule, effective July 1, 2026, has no separate line for a residential pool. Pima County charges a $69 base fee on every permit that needs an inspection. Pima County charges $69 per hour for additional plan review, with a one hour minimum. Pima County adds 25 percent to the permit fee when work starts before the permit is issued. On Omni’s new pool jobs in unincorporated Pima County from 2022 to 2026, the permit and plan review cost $300 to $450, including trade permits, rounded to the nearest $50. A pool with an attached spa usually costs a little more to permit.

Source: Pima County Development Services fees; Pima County fee schedule, effective July 1, 2026, Table 3. Related: Tucson pool cost guide; does the city you build in change what a pool costs.

48 inch barrier

Pima County requires the top of the barrier to be at least 48 inches above grade. The height is measured from the outside, on the side of the barrier that faces away from the pool. Pima County allows no more than 2 inches between grade and the bottom of the barrier, measured on the outside. Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, Pima County allows no more than 4 inches between the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier. Pima County does not allow any opening that passes a 4 inch sphere. Pima County limits chain link mesh to 1 3/4 inch squares. Pima County allows a mesh fence that meets ASTM F2286 and is installed to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Pima County requires gates to open outward, away from the pool, and to be self-closing and self-latching. Where the latch release is less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, Pima County requires the release on the pool side, at least 3 inches below the top of the gate, with no opening larger than 1/2 inch within 18 inches of the release.

Pima County applies the barrier rule to any pool or other contained body of water 18 inches or more deep and wider than 8 feet at any point that is intended for swimming. The City of Tucson, the City of South Tucson and the Towns of Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita require 60 inches. Arizona statute A.R.S. 36-1681 sets a 5 foot barrier but exempts local governments that enacted a pool barrier ordinance before the statute took effect, and the Pima County 48 inch standard rests on that exemption. Omni recommends 60 inches everywhere.

Source: Pima County Barriers for Residential Pools and Spas; Pima County 2024 ISPSC amendments, Section 305.2; A.R.S. 36-1681. Related: barrier height in unincorporated Pima County; whether a 48 inch fence is legal in Arizona; gate latch height and how it is measured; what size of water feature needs a barrier; what an HOA can change.

Door alarms are accepted

Where a wall of the house is part of the barrier, Pima County accepts an alarm on each door and operable window that opens to the pool. Pima County requires the alarm to be listed to UL 2017, to sound within 7 seconds and for at least 30 seconds, to be heard throughout the house and to reset on its own. Pima County allows a touch pad or switch that silences the alarm for one opening of no more than 15 seconds, mounted at least 54 inches above the door threshold.

Instead of an alarm, Pima County accepts self-closing, self-latching doors with the latch at least 54 inches above the floor. Pima County also accepts windows with a latch more than 54 inches above the floor, a sill 48 inches or more above the floor, or a fixed stop that blocks a 4 inch sphere, except on an emergency escape window. The Town of Oro Valley requires an automatic door closer instead of an alarm. Self-closing, self-latching door hardware typically costs about $600 to $1,000 more than a door alarm.

Source: Pima County Barriers for Residential Pools and Spas, Dwelling Walls Used as a Barrier. Related: when the house is the pool fence; Oro Valley door rules.

Powered safety cover option

Pima County exempts a swimming pool with a powered safety cover that meets ASTM F1346 from the barrier requirements on the Pima County barrier page. Pima County also exempts a spa or hot tub with a lockable safety cover that meets ASTM F1346. A powered cover protects only while it is closed.

Source: Pima County Barriers for Residential Pools and Spas, Barrier Exceptions. Related: does a pool cover replace a fence; pool cover rules in Southern Arizona.

Evaporation cover

Pima County requires all new and remodeled outdoor pools, spas and hot tubs to have a cover that limits evaporation before Pima County approves the final inspection. The rule is Section 303.4 of the Pima County 2024 ISPSC amendments. The rule covers remodels, so a Pima County remodel permit also needs a cover before final. Pima County requires the cover on site before it finals the permit. Omni’s price for a solar evaporation cover is about $330 up to 300 square feet. Omni’s price is about $440 for 301 to 600 square feet.

Source: Pima County 2024 ISPSC amendments, Section 303.4. Related: pool cover rules in Southern Arizona.

Setbacks, equipment and footings

Pima County requires a private pool to sit no closer than 4 feet from any side or rear property line. The Pima County front yard setback for a pool is the front yard requirement of the zone. Pima County Code 18.07.030(D)(1)(a) does not say whether the 4 feet is measured to the pool wall, the water’s edge or the deck. Pima County requires pool equipment at least 4 feet from a required barrier or enclosure. Pima County does not allow any part of the pool structure within a 45 degree angle of the bottom of the footing of any structure.

Pima County inspectors do not verify property lines. Pima County makes the owner and the contractor responsible for siting the pool to the approved setbacks, and a structure built off the approved setbacks may have to be moved at the owner’s expense. If the property corners are not marked, plan on a survey by a registered land surveyor.

Source: Pima County Code 18.07.030(D); Pima County Custom Pools submittal requirements; Pima County inspection procedure SOP 310.1, section 4.12. Related: how close a pool can be to a footing in Pima County; setbacks, septic and floodplain rules; what can move a pool setback.

Septic systems

Pima County requires the pool site plan to show the septic system. Arizona’s on-site wastewater rule, A.A.C. R18-9-A312(C), sets at least 5 feet between a swimming pool excavation and an on-site wastewater treatment facility. The same Arizona rule calls for more than 5 feet where soil loading or stability concerns call for it. Pima County reviews new septic systems in unincorporated Pima County through its on-site wastewater program, and those plans show distances from property lines, buildings and structures. Locate the septic tank and the disposal field before the pool is laid out.

Source: Pima County Custom Pools submittal requirements; A.A.C. R18-9-A312(C); Pima County On-Site Wastewater Treatment Facilities. Related: setbacks, septic and floodplain rules.

Floodplain

The Pima County Regional Flood Control District issues floodplain use permits in unincorporated Pima County. The Pima County Regional Flood Control District requires a floodplain use permit before construction for a pool in a regulatory floodplain or erosion hazard area. Pima County regulatory floodplains include areas along any wash with a base flood discharge of 100 cubic feet per second or more, and areas subject to sheet flooding. Section 304 of the Pima County 2024 ISPSC amendments requires written authorization from the floodplain jurisdiction for pools and spas in flood hazard areas. Pima County says plan review times for a project in a floodplain are subject to the Regional Flood Control District. Often only part of a lot is in a Pima County floodplain, so the pool location decides whether a permit is needed. On Omni’s jobs the floodplain use permit itself has carried no fee, but the pool equipment usually has to be raised on an 18 inch block platform, which adds about $700 to $1,500. The Pima County Regional Flood Control District answers floodplain status questions at (520) 724-4600.

Source: Pima County Regional Flood Control District permits; Do I Need a Floodplain Permit; Pima County 2024 ISPSC amendments, Section 304; Pima County flood hazard map. Related: setbacks, septic and floodplain rules.

Grading

Pima County does not require a grading permit for excavation below grade for a swimming pool authorized by a building permit. Pima County requires a Type I grading permit for a single lot with a graded area of 14,000 square feet or more, grading on a slope of 15 percent or more, a permanent cut or fill slope over 5 feet tall and steeper than 3 to 1, stockpiling 100 to 50,000 cubic yards, or more than 3,000 square feet of new pavement. Pima County lists a Type I grading permit fee of $66, or $235 in a Hillside Development Zone. The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality requires a fugitive dust permit when more than 1 acre is stripped, more than 300 feet of trench is cut or blasting is done.

Source: Pima County grading requirements; Pima County Do I Need a Permit; Pima County fee schedule, Table 3. Related: whether excavated dirt can be reused as fill.

Electrical

Pima County requires the pool electrical plan to show the size of the existing service in amps, the circuit size for the pool and spa, the panel schedule with the new circuits, and the equipotential bonding grid. If the panel is too small for the new loads, Pima County requires a separate electrical upgrade permit. For an electric heater, Pima County requires the heater circuit load, the disconnect location and the GFCI outlet on the plans. For a gas heater, Pima County requires the heater BTU demand, the gas line length and location, the pipe size and material, and the gas meter location. Pima County publishes an IRC electrical service load calculator on its building permits resources page.

Pima County has been on the 2023 National Electrical Code since January 1, 2026, under Ordinance 2025-15. The Pima County 2023 NEC amendments do not change Article 680, the pool and spa article. The Pima County amendment to NEC 310.15 sets the outdoor ambient temperature for sizing outdoor conductors at not less than 113 degrees F. The Pima County fee schedule lists $27 for minor electrical work such as a service upgrade, and the $69 base fee applies to every permit that needs an inspection.

Source: Pima County Custom Pools submittal requirements; Pima County 2023 NEC amendments, Ordinance 2025-15 Exhibit C; Pima County building permits resources; Pima County fee schedule. Related: which electrical code applies to your pool; what electrical work a pool requires; what to ask at the bonding inspection.

Backwash and draining water

Pima County requires backwash and drain water to be discharged under the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department swimming pool water discharge guidance. When the water does not go to the sanitary sewer, Pima County allows it onto the owner’s landscaping only if it stays on the owner’s property, does not cause erosion and does not harm the environment. Pima County allows draining water to a paved road with a curb, a storm drain or a wash only if it does not flow onto a neighbor’s property, does not erode drainage channels or washes and is not toxic. Pima County allows filter backwash onto the owner’s property only where it soaks into the ground and does not reach a neighboring property, street or alley, and never offsite to streets or washes. A cartridge filter is cleaned by hand and is not backwashed.

Source: Pima County 2024 ISPSC amendments, Section 321.1.

Plan review time

On Omni’s Pima County pool permits, plan review typically takes 8 to 10 business days. Pima County posts its own review turnaround goals for residential projects, and Omni tracks the review times it actually sees on its company KPI page at omnipoolsaz.com. A Pima County project in a floodplain runs on the Regional Flood Control District review schedule. Reviewer comments add time.

Source: Pima County review turnaround times. Related: how long it takes to build a pool; what a pool costs and how long it takes.

Inspections and final

Pima County requires the permit, the conditions sheet and the approved plans on site for inspections. Pima County lists project-specific special conditions on the permit, and the contractor reads them before construction starts. Pima County charges a $69 re-inspection fee for each item that is not ready, not corrected after a failed inspection, or canceled after 4 pm the business day before. Pima County inspects the steel and bonding before the shell is shot and the bonding again before the deck is poured. Pima County requires the evaporation cover before it approves the final inspection. Pima County expects every condition on the permit to be met before an inspection is called.

Source: Pima County inspection procedure SOP 310.1, sections 4.3, 4.4 and 4.7; Pima County fee schedule; Pima County 2024 ISPSC amendments, Section 303.4. Related: inspection hold points during a build.

Ground conditions and the rest of the price

These are the costs Pima County rules add. Rock, caliche and poor soil can add excavation time, extra steel, fill and haul-off. For what the pool itself costs by size and type, see the Tucson pool cost guide.

Frequently asked questions about Pima County pool permits

Who issues pool permits in unincorporated Pima County?

Pima County Development Services issues pool permits in unincorporated Pima County, not the City of Tucson or the towns. Pima County Development Services reviews the plans and inspects the pool. The City of Tucson, the City of South Tucson and the Towns of Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita issue their own pool permits.

How much does a pool permit cost in unincorporated Pima County?

On Omni’s unincorporated Pima County jobs from 2022 to 2026, the permit and plan review cost $300 to $450. The Pima County fee schedule has no separate pool line and charges a $69 base fee on every permit that needs an inspection. A pool with an attached spa usually costs a little more to permit.

How tall does a pool barrier have to be in unincorporated Pima County?

Pima County requires a pool barrier at least 48 inches tall, measured from the outside, the side away from the pool. Pima County requires gates to open outward, self-close and self-latch. The City of Tucson and the towns in Pima County require 60 inches, and Omni recommends 60 inches everywhere.

Can I use a door alarm instead of self-closing doors in Pima County?

Yes, Pima County accepts a UL 2017 listed alarm on doors and operable windows from the house to the pool area. Pima County also accepts self-closing, self-latching doors with the latch at least 54 inches above the floor. Self-closing, self-latching door hardware typically costs about $600 to $1,000 more than a door alarm.

Does Pima County require a pool cover?

Yes, Pima County requires a cover that limits evaporation on every new and remodeled outdoor pool, spa and hot tub before final inspection approval. The rule is Section 303.4 of the Pima County 2024 ISPSC amendments. Omni’s price for a solar evaporation cover is about $330 up to 300 square feet and about $440 for 301 to 600 square feet.

How far from the property line does a pool have to be in Pima County?

Pima County requires a private pool to be at least 4 feet from any side or rear property line, with the front yard set by the zone. Pima County requires pool equipment at least 4 feet from a required barrier. Pima County inspectors do not verify property lines.

How far does a pool have to be from a septic system in Pima County?

Arizona’s on-site wastewater rule sets at least 5 feet between a swimming pool excavation and the septic system, and more where soil loading or stability calls for it. Pima County requires the septic system to be shown on the pool site plan.

Do I need a floodplain permit for a pool in Pima County?

Yes, if the pool is in a regulatory floodplain or erosion hazard area, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District requires a floodplain use permit before construction. The Pima County pool code requires written authorization from the floodplain jurisdiction for pools in flood hazard areas. On Omni’s jobs the permit itself has carried no fee, but the pool equipment usually has to be raised on an 18 inch block platform, which adds about $700 to $1,500.

How long does Pima County plan review take?

On Omni’s Pima County pool permits, plan review typically takes 8 to 10 business days. Pima County posts its own review turnaround goals, and Omni tracks the review times it actually sees on its company KPI page at omnipoolsaz.com. A Pima County project in a floodplain runs on the Regional Flood Control District schedule.

What has to be done before Pima County finals a pool permit?

Before Pima County approves the final inspection, the evaporation cover must be on site. Pima County expects every condition on the permit to be met before an inspection is called. Pima County charges a $69 re-inspection fee for any item that is not ready.

Omni Pool Builders and Design builds pools in unincorporated Pima County under Arizona ROC license 282151 (KA-5), active through December 31, 2028. Our design center is at 6640 N Oracle Rd, Suite 130, Tucson, AZ 85704.

Call (520) 222-8503 or request a design consultation.

Sources

What else applies in Pima County

These are regional or statewide and are explained once rather than repeated on every county page.

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