Building a Pool

It’s important that your pool is built safely for you, your family and guests. That’s why the City of Lenexa requires permits and inspections for all above-ground and in-ground pools — except for prefabricated pools less than 30 inches deep. Specific code requirements can be found in the Residential Pool and Spa Guideline(PDF, 701KB).

Common inspection issues

Here are some of the top issues our inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your pool.

• Pool alarms help prevent children from gaining unsupervised access to a pool. For new pools, alarms are required on doors leading from the house to the pool area.
• Everything electrical near the pool needs to be to be protected with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). All electrical work for new permanent swimming pools must be installed by a properly licensed electrician. You don’t need a licensed electrician if you purchase a portable pool less than 30 inches deep from a retail store, and it has a GFCI-protected circulation pump that plugs into an existing outlet.
• There must be a 10-foot vertical clearance from the pool to overhead power lines. A 5-foot horizontal clearance from any underground electrical wiring is also required.
• Improper circulation system covers can allow fingers, limbs and hair to get trapped in the drain, which can result in drowning. Any covers sold after December 2008 must meet federal safety regulations that protect swimmers from entrapment. Replace your drain covers when they reach the end of their service life, are broken or missing. Also replace any that were manufactured before December 2008.
• If your pool can hold up to 2 feet of water, it needs a fence that is at least 48 inches tall.  The fence must have a self-closing, self-latching gate to keep out children and unauthorized swimmers. Don’t place furniture or toys near the fence that a child could use to climb over it. 

Before you apply

Before applying for your pool permit, please gather this information for your application:

• Contractors' business name, address, and their Johnson County Contractor License. Contractors working on the project must have both a current Johnson County Contractor License and Lenexa Business License required for contractors.
• Plot plan of your property with the pool location marked. Include dimensions for the pool, distance from the pool to rear and side yards, and house.
• Pool acknowledgement form(PDF, 4MB)
• Pump and filter specifications
• Pool cover specifications
• Structural drawings or manufacturer’s specifications for the pool
• Energy efficiency worksheet (only required for heated pools)
• Photos of the rear and side yards to show where the fence will be installed.
• If there is an existing fence, include photos to show existing gates and latches.

Prior to permit issuance, the following will be required:

1. $2,500 performance bond which can be obtained through an insurance company or paid with cash/check/card. If you choose to pay the $2,500 bond, you may request a refund once the project is completed and has approved final inspections.
2. Subcontractor information
3. If installing a new fence, a separate permit application must be submitted prior to permit issuance for the pool.

Apply for a building permit for your pool or spa