Do I need a permit for swimming pool or spa in St. Augustine?
Yes. In Florida, swimming pool or spa generally requires a permit, and St. Augustine 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 St. Augustine
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. St. Johns County's own permitting office is the St. Johns County Building Department, reachable on (904) 827-6800 at https://www.sjcfl.us/departments/building-department/. Its online permit portal is https://webapp.sjcfl.us/WATSWebX/Permit/SearchPermit.aspx. 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. Under Code Sec. 28-348(4), a private pool must be at least 5 feet from any property line. It may sit in a front yard only if screened by a fence, wall, or hedge 6 to 8 feet high. The same section requires a pool enclosure 4 to 8 feet high, with self-latching gates whose latches are at least 4 feet above the ground. Water features over 2 feet deep must also be fenced. In-ground pools are among the projects the City Archaeology Program reviews before digging when the property is in an Archaeology Zone.
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 - Residential permit application through the Permit PortalLikely required
- Property survey with setbacks, lot coverage, drainage, and treesLikely required
- Residential Lot Grading Plan when impervious surface increases by 500 square feet or moreSometimes required
- Simplified Total Dynamic Head Calculation WorksheetLikely required
- Energy Efficiency Compliance Information Sheet (ANSI/APSP/ICC 15)Likely required
- Pool section, footing details, and pump, filter, and drain specification sheetsLikely required
- A14 Archaeological Review Application in an Archaeology ZoneSometimes 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
- Electrical inspection
- Barrier and final inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for swimming pool or spa in St. Augustine?
- Yes. In Florida, swimming pool or spa generally requires a permit, and St. Augustine is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in St. Augustine?
- The local building department for St. Augustine 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.