Pool Permit Cost in Virginia (2026)

What an in-ground swimming pool permit costs in Virginia by jurisdiction, the fee formulas driving those numbers, and what else you will be billed for beyond the building permit.

State

Virginia (VA)

Fairfax County (Verified)

$413.10 all-in building permit

Chesterfield County (Verified)

$108.14 pool permit + env fee

Henrico County (Verified)

$255.00 for a $30,000 pool

Permit Always Required?

Yes - all in-ground pools in VA

State Levy

2% on all VA permits (§36-139)

Written By

Munib Ur Rehman · April 2026

Key Takeaways

All in-ground swimming pools require a building permit in Virginia under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. There is no size or cost threshold below which a pool is exempt.
Fairfax County charges a flat $270 building permit fee for in-ground pools, plus 50% plan review ($135) and the 2% state levy ($8.10), for a total of $413.10 all-in (verified FY2025 Appendix Q). A separate electrical permit is required for pump and lighting wiring.
Chesterfield County charges $57 flat for the pool building permit plus $1.14 state levy and a $50 Environmental Engineering site inspection fee, totaling $108.14. A pool barrier permit (required by code) is a separate $57 if not filed on the same permit.
Henrico County uses its standard value-based formula for pool permits: $100 base + $6 per $1,000 of construction value over $5,000, capped at $680. A $30,000 pool totals $255 all-in including the 2% state levy (verified December 2025).
Virginia fee schedules update July 1 each year. Always verify the current schedule with your local building department before budgeting or filing.

Use the Fee Calculator Fairfax County Fees

What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: The residential building permit fee for an in-ground swimming pool in Virginia, with verified formulas for Fairfax County (FY2025), Chesterfield County (FY2025-2026), and Henrico County (current, page updated December 2025). Fee formulas are compared side-by-side with worked dollar examples for each jurisdiction.

This guide does NOT cover: Electrical trade permits for pool pump and lighting wiring (separate permit, separate fee), plumbing permits for pool fill lines, pool barrier or fence permits when filed separately, zoning variance applications, HOA approvals, development impact fees, health department pool inspections, or commercial pool permits. These are additional costs that must be budgeted separately. In every jurisdiction covered, the electrical permit for pool wiring is required and is billed apart from the building permit.

Data coverage note: Fairfax County is verified against the FY2025 Appendix Q schedule (effective July 1, 2024, verified March 2026). Chesterfield County is verified from the FY2025-2026 fee schedule. Henrico County is verified from henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/ (page updated December 2025, no explicit fiscal year stated). Above-ground pool permit requirements differ by jurisdiction - verify directly with your local building department. Loudoun County, Prince William County, Arlington County, and other Virginia jurisdictions are not yet covered on PermitPrice.

Fairfax County: Pool Permit Cost Breakdown (Verified)

Fairfax County charges a flat fee of $270 for an in-ground swimming pool building permit per Appendix Q. This is different from the percentage-based formula used for decks and additions. The plan review fee is 50% of the building permit fee ($135), and the mandatory Virginia USBC 2% state levy applies to the combined total. These amounts are verified against the FY2025 Appendix Q fee schedule (effective July 1, 2024, verified March 2026). A separate electrical sub-permit is required for pool pump and lighting circuits and is billed separately.

Fee Calculation - In-Ground Pool Building Permit, Fairfax County, VA Verified

Step	Formula	Calculation	Amount
Layer 1: Building Permit Fee	Flat rate (in-ground pool)	Flat $270 per Appendix Q	$270.00
Layer 2: Plan Review Fee	$270 × 50%	$270 × 0.50 = $135	$135.00
Subtotal (before levy)	Layer 1 + Layer 2	$270 + $135 = $405	$405.00
Layer 3: USBC State Levy	$405 × 2%	$405 × 0.02 = $8.10	$8.10
Total All-In Building Permit	Subtotal + Levy	$405 + $8.10	$413.10

Source: Fairfax County Appendix Q, Land Development Services Fee Schedule, FY2025 (effective July 1, 2024). Verified March 15, 2026. Formula: Flat $270 building permit for in-ground swimming pool. Plan review = 50% of building permit fee. State levy = 2% x (building permit + plan review). Electrical permit for pump and pool lighting is required separately - minimum tier (0-149A service) = $341 + $6.82 state levy = $347.82. Pool barrier/fence permit may also be required separately. Verify current requirements with Fairfax Land Development Services at (703) 222-0801.

Chesterfield County: Pool Permit Cost Breakdown (Verified)

Chesterfield County charges a flat $57 fee for an in-ground swimming pool building permit. This does not scale with construction value. A separate $50 Environmental Engineering site inspection fee is collected at application because a pool changes the building footprint. The Virginia 2% USBC state levy applies to the building permit. A pool barrier or fence permit is required by code and adds another $57 if filed as a separate permit from the pool. These amounts are verified from the FY2025-2026 Chesterfield County Residential Fee Schedule.

Fee Calculation - In-Ground Pool Building Permit, Chesterfield County, VA Verified

Step	Formula	Calculation	Amount
Building Permit Fee	Flat rate (in-ground pool)	Flat $57 per fee schedule	$57.00
USBC State Levy	$57 × 2%	$57 × 0.02 = $1.14	$1.14
Environmental Engineering Fee	Flat rate (footprint change)	$50 flat - collected at application	$50.00
Total (Pool Permit Only)	Permit + Levy + Env Fee	$57 + $1.14 + $50	$108.14

Source: Chesterfield County Residential Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Pool barrier permit: +$57 + $1.14 levy if filed as a separate permit. If pool and barrier are filed on a single permit, verify with Chesterfield County Building Inspection whether a combined fee applies. Electrical permit for pool pump and wiring is required separately. Contact Chesterfield County Building Inspection at (804) 748-1250 to confirm current requirements and combined-permit options.

Chesterfield pool + barrier total if filed separately

Pool permit: $57 + $1.14 levy + $50 env = $108.14 | Barrier permit: $57 + $1.14 levy = $58.14 | Combined total (two permits): $166.28
Whether pool and barrier can be filed as one combined permit at a single fee is not confirmed in the published schedule. Verify with Chesterfield County Building Inspection.

Henrico County: Pool Permit Cost Breakdown (Verified)

Henrico County uses a value-based formula for all residential project permits, including swimming pools. The formula is $100 base fee plus $6 per $1,000 of construction value over $5,000, capped at a maximum of $680. The Virginia 2% USBC state levy applies to the permit fee. Swimming pools are explicitly listed in the scope of this formula on the Henrico permit fees page. These amounts are verified from henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/ (page updated December 2025 - no explicit fiscal year effective date stated on the source).

Fee Calculation - $30,000 In-Ground Pool, Henrico County, VA Verified

Step	Formula	Calculation	Amount
Base Fee	Flat base	$100.00	$100.00
Value-Based Increment	$6 × increments of $1k over $5k	$6 × 25 = $150 (on $30k − $5k = $25k)	$150.00
Building Permit Subtotal	Base + Increment	$100 + $150 = $250	$250.00
USBC State Levy	$250 × 2%	$250 × 0.02 = $5.00	$5.00
Total All-In (Building Permit)	Subtotal + Levy	$250 + $5.00	$255.00

Source: Henrico County, Department of Building Construction and Inspections, henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/ (page updated December 17, 2025). Formula: $100 + ($6 per $1,000 of construction value over $5,000). Maximum fee: $680. State levy: 2% of building permit fee. Trade permits (electrical for pump and wiring) use the same value-based formula for existing residential work and are billed separately. No explicit fiscal year effective date is stated on the Henrico source page.

Henrico County pool permit at other construction values

$20,000 pool: $190 + $3.80 levy = $193.80 | $35,000 pool: $280 + $5.60 levy = $285.60 | $50,000 pool: $370 + $7.40 levy = $377.40 | $100,000+ pool: $680 max + $13.60 levy = $693.60
Construction value is based on cost of labor and materials as stated by the applicant or as determined by Henrico County.

Pool Permit Cost Comparison: Three Virginia Jurisdictions

The table below compares the all-in building permit cost for an in-ground pool across three verified Virginia jurisdictions. Electrical permits (required in all three) are not included in these totals.

In-Ground Pool Building Permit - Verified Virginia Jurisdictions (2026)
Jurisdiction	Fee Method	Building Permit	Plan Review	Other Fees	All-In Total	Evidence
Fairfax County	Flat rate	$270.00	$135.00	$8.10 levy	$413.10	Verified - Appendix Q FY2025
Chesterfield County	Flat rate	$57.00	None	$1.14 levy + $50 env	$108.14	Verified - FY2025-2026 schedule
Henrico County	Value-based	$250.00*	None	$5.00 levy	$255.00*	Verified - henrico.gov Dec 2025

*Henrico total based on $30,000 construction value example. Actual fee scales with cost of labor and materials. Pool barrier permits and electrical permits are additional in all jurisdictions.

What Triggers a Pool Permit in Virginia

Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code requires a permit for all in-ground pools. Above-ground pool permit requirements vary by jurisdiction. The table below summarizes what is confirmed for each covered jurisdiction.

Project	Fairfax County	Chesterfield County	Henrico County
In-ground pool (any size)	Yes - permit always required	Yes - permit always required	Yes - permit always required
Above-ground pool (under 24 in. depth)	Typically exempt - verify with LDS	Verify with Building Inspection	Verify with Dept. of Building Const.
Pool barrier / safety fence	Required - separate permit may apply	Required - separate permit +$57	Required - verify permit requirement
Electrical (pump, lighting, bonding)	Required - separate electrical permit	Required - separate electrical permit	Required - separate trade permit
Pool heater (gas)	Separate mechanical/gas permit	Separate gas permit ($114 or $57)	Separate trade permit (formula-based)

Plan for more than the building permit

The building permit fee is one line item on your application. Most pool installations require at minimum: a building permit, an electrical permit, and a pool barrier or fence permit. In Fairfax County, a pool barrier permit filed separately would use the percentage-based formula (3% of barrier installation value, minimum $72), adding another $110+ to your permit costs. In Chesterfield County the barrier permit adds $57 flat. Budget accordingly and confirm the full permit list with your jurisdiction before construction starts.

What Pool Permit Applicants Often Get Wrong

The most common gap in pool permit budgeting is treating the building permit fee as the only permit cost. In practice, a standard in-ground pool installation in Virginia involves three to four separate permits pulled from the same building department: the building permit for the pool shell, an electrical permit for the pump and bonding grid, a pool barrier permit for the required safety fence, and sometimes a gas permit if a heater is included. Each permit is billed independently.

In Fairfax County, the building permit alone is $413.10, but the electrical permit for pool wiring starts at $347.82 for residential service under 150 amps, and the barrier permit adds another $110+ depending on the fence's construction value. Combined permit fees of $800 to $1,200 are realistic for a complete Fairfax County pool installation before construction begins. Chesterfield County's fees are significantly lower but still require multiple separate applications.

Pool Permit Cost - Frequently Asked Questions

Do I always need a permit for an in-ground pool in Virginia?

Yes. All in-ground swimming pools require a building permit in Virginia under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, regardless of pool size or construction value. There is no size or cost exemption for in-ground pools. A pool barrier or safety fence permit is also required by code and is typically a separate permit application from the pool itself. Above-ground pool requirements vary by jurisdiction - verify directly with your local building department.

Why is Chesterfield County's pool permit fee so much lower than Fairfax County's?

Chesterfield County uses flat-rate permit fees that do not scale with construction value or include a plan review charge. The $57 flat fee for an in-ground pool is the same whether the pool costs $25,000 or $75,000. Fairfax County charges a flat $270 building permit fee plus a 50% plan review fee ($135), which alone exceeds Chesterfield's combined permit fee. Both jurisdictions then add Virginia's mandatory 2% USBC state levy on top of the permit fee. Chesterfield also adds a $50 Environmental Engineering site inspection fee, but the total ($108.14) is still far below Fairfax's $413.10.

Does a pool permit include the electrical permit for the pump?

No. In all three jurisdictions covered by this guide, the electrical permit for pool pump wiring, pool lighting, and the bonding grid is a separate trade permit with a separate fee. In Fairfax County, the minimum electrical permit for residential service under 150 amps is $341 plus $6.82 state levy ($347.82 total). In Henrico County, the electrical trade permit uses the same value-based formula as the building permit. In Chesterfield County, the electrical permit for pool wiring must be verified directly with Building Inspection. Do not assume your building permit covers electrical work.

How does Henrico County calculate the pool permit fee?

Henrico County uses a value-based formula for all residential building permits, including swimming pools. The formula is: $100 base fee plus $6 for each $1,000 of construction value over $5,000, with a maximum of $680. The 2% USBC state levy is then added to this total. For example, a $30,000 pool costs: $100 + ($6 x 25 increments) = $250, plus $5.00 state levy, totaling $255.00. A $50,000 pool would cost $370 + $7.40 levy = $377.40. The maximum building permit fee in Henrico is $693.60 ($680 + $13.60 levy), reached at construction values above approximately $126,666.

What is the Virginia USBC state levy and why does it appear on my permit?

The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) mandates that all local jurisdictions collect a 2% levy on top of every building permit fee and trade permit fee they issue. This is authorized under Code of Virginia Section 36-139 and USBC Section 107.2. The levy is collected by your local building department and remitted to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. It is not a local discretionary charge - every jurisdiction in Virginia must collect it. The levy applies to both the base permit fee and, in jurisdictions that charge one, the plan review fee.

Do I need a permit for a pool fence or barrier in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia's building code requires a pool barrier or safety fence for all residential swimming pools, and a permit is required for this barrier in the jurisdictions covered by this guide. In Chesterfield County, a pool barrier permit is $57 flat, filed separately from the pool permit if not combined at application. In Fairfax County, the barrier permit fee depends on the fence's construction value using the standard 3% percentage formula (minimum $72 base), with plan review and levy added - contact LDS to confirm current requirements. In Henrico County, verify the barrier permit requirement and fee with the Department of Building Construction and Inspections.

Sources

Fairfax County Appendix Q - Land Development Services Fee Schedule (FY2025)
fairfaxcounty.gov - Appendix Q PDF
Effective July 1, 2024. Verified March 15, 2026 by Munib Ur Rehman. Source of: flat $270 pool permit fee, 50% plan review, 2% state levy formula.
Chesterfield County Residential Fee Schedule (FY2025-2026)
chesterfield.gov - Building Inspection
Effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Source of: $57 flat pool permit fee, $50 Environmental Engineering fee, 2% state levy.
Henrico County - Permit Fees: Current
henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/
Page updated December 17, 2025. No explicit fiscal year effective date stated. Source of: $100 + $6/$1k over $5k formula, $680 maximum, 2% state levy. Swimming pools explicitly listed in scope.

Verify with your local building department

Fee schedules update July 1 each year. This guide reflects verified schedules current as of April 2026. Contact your jurisdiction's building department before filing to confirm current fees, required permits, and any additional charges not covered here.

Disclaimer

The fee amounts and formulas on this page are for informational and estimation purposes only. They are not an official quotation from any government agency. Fee schedules change and your actual permit cost may differ based on your project's scope, construction value, site conditions, jurisdiction-specific requirements, and current fee schedule. Always verify fees directly with your local building department before filing a permit application or budgeting for construction. PermitPrice is not a government agency and is not responsible for discrepancies between this guide and fees assessed by your jurisdiction.

About This Guide

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents. Fairfax County fees extracted from the Appendix Q PDF and cross-referenced with county records. Chesterfield County fees extracted from the official FY2025-2026 residential fee schedule. Henrico County fees verified from the Department of Building Construction and Inspections fee page.

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