Do I need a permit for swimming pool or spa in Bonita Springs?
Yes. In Florida, swimming pool or spa generally requires a permit, and Bonita Springs is no exception.
A building permit is required to build a residential pool or spa in Florida. Separately, the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (Chapter 515) requires at least one approved safety feature before final inspection, such as a four-foot barrier, an approved safety cover, exit alarms, or self-closing and self-latching gates. Pool electrical bonding and plumbing carry their own permit and inspection requirements.
Florida and local notes for Bonita Springs
The Chapter 515 safety-barrier requirement is not optional and will fail inspection if missing. Above-ground pools over a certain depth also require a permit in most jurisdictions. Lee County's own permitting office is the Lee County Community Development Department - Building & Permitting Services, reachable on (239) 533-8329 at https://www.leegov.com/dcd. Its online permit portal is https://aca-prod.accela.com/LEECO/Cap/CapHome.aspx?module=Permitting. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, and many smaller Florida municipalities do not, this is the office that will handle the job. A pool involves a building permit, a separate electrical permit for bonding, and a barrier inspection before final sign-off. Bonita Springs requires a permit for pools, including above-ground pools, and spas. The enclosure is a separate permit, and the Pool Enclosure Affidavit confirms a permanent enclosure and barriers or alarms must be in place for the 118 pool safety inspection before the pool is filled. LDC 4-928 requires every pool, hot tub, or spa to be enclosed by a fence, wall, or screen at least 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates. A spa with a solid locking cover may skip the fence. A pool must meet the accessory rear and side setbacks in LDC 4-926 and may be no closer than 5 feet to a seawalled canal, 10 feet to a non-seawalled artificial water body, or 25 feet to a natural water body without a seawall.
Documents you may need
- Permit applicationLikely required
- Site plan or survey showing pool locationLikely required
- Engineered plans (in-ground)Likely required
- Pool safety affirmation and barrier documentationLikely required
- Manufacturer instructions (above-ground)Sometimes required
- Pool/Spa Permit Application with pool safety feature selectedLikely required
- Pool Enclosure AffidavitLikely required
- Three sets of plans, or a pool master numberLikely required
- Site fill grading and drainage planSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Steel and bonding inspection before the shell is placed
- Rough plumbing and pressure test
- Deck and safety-barrier inspection
- Electrical bonding inspection
- Final inspection
- Steel and bonding inspection
- Deck inspection
- 118 pool safety inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for swimming pool or spa in Bonita Springs?
- Yes. In Florida, swimming pool or spa generally requires a permit, and Bonita Springs is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Bonita Springs?
- The local building department for Bonita Springs handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.