Swimming Pool permit in El Paso, TX
It depends — some swimming pool work in El Paso needs a permit, some doesn't.
A swimming pool, wading pool, or pond is exempt only if the water is less than 24 inches deep and holds less than 5,000 gallons. That limit applies the same way whether the pool is in-ground or above ground. A normal backyard pool is past both limits, so it needs a permit. The barrier around it is treated as a fence, and a wood privacy fence is not exempt.
| Permit needed? | Depends on size |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | From 24 in deep |
| Fee | The code only says you pay the established permit fee. The dollar amounts are set in the city fee schedule, not in the ordinance. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | 18.10.040 (IRC Section R105.2), Building item 6 |
| Based on | IRC 2021 as adopted and amended by the city (Ord. No. 019528) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the El Paso building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
If you skip it
El Paso's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
Other work in El Paso
Questions people ask
My swimming pool is right at the limit. Does that count?
The exemption has to fit exactly — if the code says a size or height, being at or under it keeps you exempt, and going a single inch over doesn't. When you're close to the line, measure before you buy materials, and call the department if the number is borderline.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
El Paso can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.