Registry
Pools
New in-ground swimming pool / spa
New residential pool or spa, including the excavation, shell, equipment, deck and barrier.
partialHB 803: excludedreviewed never
Who can pull the permit
- CPCCertified Commercial Pool/Spa Contractor
- RPCertified Residential Pool/Spa Contractor
- CGCCertified General Contractor
- CBCCertified Building Contractor
- CRCCertified Residential Contractor
- OWNER-BUILDEROwner-occupied 1–2 family (FS 489.103(7))
Subs under the prime's permit: SPEC-EXCAVATION, SPEC-CONCRETE, SPEC-PAVER, SPEC-ALUMINUM, SPEC-SCREEN, SPEC-FENCE, EC, ER, CFC, RF, NONE
Decision — first matching row wins
| # | When | Permit | Type | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | residential = "com" | yes | Building — Commercial Pool/Spa | Commercial pools require a building permit AND Florida Department of Health public-pool approval; only a CPC (not RP) may contract. |
| 2 | otherwise | yes | Building — Residential Pool/Spa (with electrical sub-permit) | A new in-ground pool is a structure under FBC §105.1; no exemption applies. The pool contractor pulls the master permit; the electrical bonding/equipment circuit is a sub-permit pulled by an EC/ER. |
Inputs the rule needs
- residentialResidential (1–2 family) or commercial?required
- spaIncludes a spa / hot tub?
- screenScreen enclosure in the same contract?
- septicProperty on septic?
- depth_ftDeepest point (ft)
Per-authority differences
- collier-unincorporatedBuilding Permit — Residential Pool via CityView ($100 application + $110 per inspection, Res. 2025-231; gas, electrical, fence and aluminum-screen contractors each pull their own sub-permit)
- cape-coral
- lee-unincorporatedResidential Pool/Spa Building Permit via eConnect
Documents (base)
- Owner authorization / signed permit application (owner or agent signature, notarized where the authority requires)
- Site plan / survey showing property lines, setbacks, easements, septic and the proposed work — pool, deck and equipment pad with setbacks dimensioned
- Signed & sealed pool engineering (shell, steel schedule, hydrostatic relief) — FBC-R Ch. 45 / ANSI/APSP-5
- Barrier compliance sheet — FS 515: fence/screen with self-closing gates OR approved alarms/covers
- Electrical: bonding grid & equipment layout (sub-permit by EC/ER)
- Product approvals for screen enclosure if included
- Notice of Commencement — recorded with the Clerk of Court and a certified copy (or notarised statement of filing) given to the building department BEFORE the first inspection. Statutory floor is a direct contract over $5,000 (FS 713.135(1)(e)); HVAC repair/replace under $15,000 exempt; lien-law protection applies above $2,500 (FS 713.02(5)). Authorities differ: Collier applies $2,500 (Bulletin B-44, pool checklist) and charges a $5 NOC admin fee; Lee will not ISSUE the permit until the NOC is recorded ($5,000+); Fort Myers, Bonita, Fort Myers Beach $5,000; Marco Island / Sanibel per statute (posted on site before first inspection)
- Contractor registration current with the county (license, GL insurance, workers' comp or exemption on file)
Sources
- Florida Building Code, Building §105.1 (Permits required) & §105.2 (Work exempt from permit)
- Fla. Stat. ch. 489 — Contracting (license classes & scopes, §489.105; owner-builder §489.103(7))
- Fla. Stat. ch. 515 — Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (barrier requirements)
- Fla. Stat. ch. 556 — Underground Facility Damage Prevention (Sunshine 811 locate before you dig)
- Fla. Stat. §713.13 / §713.135(1)(e) / §713.02(5) — Notice of Commencement (copy filed before first inspection when direct contract > $5,000; HVAC repair/replace < $15,000 exempt) checked 2026-08-18
- Florida Product Approval system (FBC §1609 wind-borne debris; product approvals/NOAs)