Des Moines requires building permits for all pools over 24 inches deep, along with safety fencing, electrical permits, and inspections before you can fill and use your pool.
Yes. The City of Des Moines requires a building permit for any pool that can hold water more than 24 inches deep. This includes inground pools, above-ground pools, on-ground pools, hot tubs, and spas. There is no exception for small pools or temporary setups.
The city adopted the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2021 edition, as the basis for pool regulations. You can find the full ordinance listed as Ordinance No. 16,317. The code covers design, construction, barriers, drainage, and electrical work.
Contact the City of Des Moines Development Services Department to start the permit process. The office is located at Argonne Armory, 602 Robert D Ray Drive, basement floor. You can call 515-283-4200 or email permits@dmgov.org.
You will need to submit a site plan showing where the pool will sit on your lot, how far it is from property lines, and where the safety fence will go. The permit application asks for the pool dimensions, depth, equipment location, and electrical plans. Your contractor usually handles this paperwork, but as the property owner you are responsible for making sure permits are pulled and inspections are completed.
Permit fees typically range from $100 to $500 depending on the size and complexity of the project. Electrical work requires a separate electrical permit. Plumbing connections may need a plumbing permit. Ask Development Services what applies to your specific project.
Des Moines requires a barrier at least 4 feet high around all pools. The barrier can be a fence, a wall, or the pool itself if it is an above-ground pool with non-climbable sides. The point is to keep young children from wandering into the pool area unsupervised.
Gates must be self-closing and self-latching. The latch needs to be at least 54 inches above the ground or on the pool side of the gate so a small child cannot reach it from outside. No gaps in the fence can be wider than 4 inches. Chain link, wood, vinyl, and metal fences all work as long as they meet the height and spacing rules.
If your pool backs up to your house, the house wall can serve as part of the barrier, but any doors leading from the house to the pool need alarms or self-closing mechanisms. This is a safety code requirement, and the inspector will check it before signing off on your permit.
Pool setbacks in Des Moines typically require the pool to be at least 10 feet from the property line, but zoning rules vary by neighborhood. The city zoning code controls setbacks, and you can check your specific requirements by calling the Zoning Enforcement Division at 515-283-4207 or emailing dz@dmgov.org.
All pool electrical work must meet the National Electrical Code. This includes bonding and grounding all metal parts of the pool, underwater lights, pumps, heaters, and any metal within 5 feet of the pool. Ground fault circuit interrupters are required on all pool equipment. Your electrician should know these rules, but the city inspector will verify the work.
Do not bury electrical conduit or backfill the pool until the inspector approves the rough-in work. If you cover it up before inspection, you may have to dig it back out. Schedule inspections as you go, not all at the end.
Des Moines requires inspections at several stages. The inspector checks the excavation and layout before you set the pool shell or pour concrete. Electrical, plumbing, and barrier installations each get inspected before you cover or complete the work. A final inspection happens before you fill the pool.
Call Development Services to schedule each inspection at least a day or two in advance. If something does not meet code, you fix it and call for a re-inspection. You cannot legally use the pool until the city issues final approval.
Suburbs like West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, Clive, and Altoona each have their own building departments and slightly different rules. If you live outside Des Moines city limits, contact your local city hall to find out their specific permit requirements. Do not assume the rules are the same.
Installing a pool without a permit is a code violation in Des Moines. The city can issue a stop-work order, fine you, and require you to remove or modify work that does not meet code. Your homeowner insurance may not cover a pool that was installed without permits.
If you sell your house later, the lack of permits can kill the sale or force you to bring everything up to code before closing. It is not worth the risk. Pull the permits, do the work right, and get the inspections. It protects you and any future owner.
Also in our network: Sioux Falls Pool Permits: Rules, Setbacks, and Inspections.
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