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Swimming Pool, Spa / Hot Tub Permit in Sedona, Arizona

Required for construction of swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs (and their associated safety barriers) in Sedona, governed by the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as adopted and amended by the City, plus IBC/IRC pool-barrier provisions.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required for in-ground and above-ground swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and fountains, including associated pool safety barriers
  • Exempt: prefabricated above-ground pools/spas less than 18 inches deep and less than 8 feet in any dimension, accessory to Group R-3 occupancies
  • Unless exempt under A.R.S. § 32-1121, must be constructed by a licensed swimming pool contractor (public/semi-public pools always require a licensed swimming pool contractor)
  • Professional engineering/architectural design is recommended but not required for private pools; the plans examiner may require engineering for specific structural elements
  • 4 complete sets of plans required, drawn to scale and dimensioned, including site/grading plan, pool location, fence/gate locations, and setback dimensions
  • A soils classification prepared by an Arizona-registered geotechnical engineer is required for all new structures

Required documents

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Fee schedule

In-Ground Swimming Pool Plan Review Deposit / Permit FeeCity of Sedona Swimming Pool and Spa Building Permit Packet, 'Plan Review Deposit & Fees' section — deposit usually covers the total permit cost; additional fees may apply for substantial grading, retaining walls, or plan revisions
$200 total ($50 deposit due at application)
Above-Ground Pool, Spa, Hot Tub, or Fountain Plan Review Deposit / Permit FeeCity of Sedona Swimming Pool and Spa Building Permit Packet
$50 total ($50 deposit due at application)

Review timeline

Plan reviewSedona’s published plan-review target
42–42 business days

How long did your Swimming Pool, Spa / Hot Tub Permit permit actually take in Sedona?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Pre-Gunite/Pre-Plaster (In-Ground Pools)

    Steel/plumbing/electrical bonding verification before shotcrete or plaster application

  2. 2

    Barrier/Fence

    Pool safety barrier height, gate self-closing/self-latching hardware verified per adopted pool code

  3. 3

    Final

    Completed pool/spa and barrier verified against approved plans before use

See the full Sedona inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Per the City of Sedona Swimming Pool and Spa Building Permit Packet, the published A.R.S. § 9-836 time frame is 21 business days Administrative Completeness + 21 business days Substantive Review = 42 business days overall, authorized under City Code Title 15.
  • The $50/$200 figures are described in the packet as a 'Plan Review Deposit' that 'usually covers the total cost of the permit' — larger or more complex pool projects involving substantial grading or retaining walls may be billed additional valuation-based fees per the Consolidated Fee Schedule.
  • A soils classification from an Arizona-registered geotechnical engineer is required for all new pool structures, the same as for new home construction.

Frequently asked questions

Sedona requires a swimming pool, spa / hot tub permit for: Building permit required for in-ground and above-ground swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and fountains, including associated pool safety barriers; Exempt: prefabricated above-ground pools/spas less than 18 inches deep and less than 8 feet in any dimension, accessory to Group R-3 occupancies; Unless exempt under A.R.S. § 32-1121, must be constructed by a licensed swimming pool contractor (public/semi-public pools always require a licensed swimming pool contractor); Professional engineering/architectural design is recommended but not required for private pools; the plans examiner may require engineering for specific structural elements; 4 complete sets of plans required, drawn to scale and dimensioned, including site/grading plan, pool location, fence/gate locations, and setback dimensions; A soils classification prepared by an Arizona-registered geotechnical engineer is required for all new structures. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Sedona Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 928-282-1154 before starting work.

An in-ground swimming pool has a $200 total plan review deposit/permit fee ($50 due at application); above-ground pools, spas, hot tubs, and fountains are $50 total, per the City of Sedona Swimming Pool and Spa Building Permit Packet. Additional fees may apply for substantial grading or retaining walls.

Sedona's published plan-review target for a swimming pool, spa / hot tub permit is 42–42 business days.

You'll need: Residential Building Permit Application (Pool/Spa); Color and Material Sample Sheet (for pool barriers); Site and Grading Plan; Construction Envelope Fence (CEF) Instructions. Depending on your project, Sedona may also ask for: Owner-Builder/Developer Statement. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Sedona requires 3 inspection(s) for a swimming pool, spa / hot tub permit, in order: Pre-Gunite/Pre-Plaster (In-Ground Pools), Barrier/Fence, Final. Schedule each through City of Sedona Community Development Department — Building Safety Division (928-282-1154).

Apply through City of Sedona Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 102 Roadrunner Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336-3710 (Community Development front counter address also published as 104 Roadrunner Drive in some permit packets). Phone: 928-282-1154, email: Permittechs@sedonaaz.gov. Office hours: Community Development Department phone hours Monday - Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (4-day, 10-hour City workweek); lobby/front counter hours Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Construction Inspection Hotline: 928-282-3268 (call by 3:00 p.m. the business day before to request a next-day inspection). Staff: Steve Mertes, Chief Building Official/Community Development Director, 928-203-5097, smertes@sedonaaz.gov; Becky Oium, Plans Examiner, 928-203-5093; Patty Lewis, Permit Technician, 928-203-5118; Andrew Vaughn, Building Inspector, 928-204-7115, avaughn@sedonaaz.gov.. Official information: https://www.sedonaaz.gov/your-government/departments/community-development/permits.

Sedona, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-city/county authority under state enabling statutes (e.g., A.R.S. Title 9 for municipalities). The City of Sedona runs its own Community Development Department / Building Safety Division and independently adopts and administers its own construction codes as City Code Title 15 (Buildings and Construction); it does not defer permitting to Yavapai County or Coconino County for parcels within Sedona city limits, even though the city itself straddles both counties. Source: Sedona City Code Chapter 15.05 (sedona.municipal.codes/SCC/15.05); City of Sedona Permits and Building Safety webpages.; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), as amended and codified, published by the International Code Council, adopted as the building code of the City of Sedona (Sedona City Code § 15.05.010), with City of Sedona amendments (§ 15.05.020). Adopted by City Council on September 24, 2019 (Ordinance 2019-05, Resolution 2019-18 Exh. A); effective for all permits submitted on or after October 25, 2019. Source: Sedona City Code § 15.05.010/.020; City of Sedona Building Safety and Permits pages ('Building Codes' section).; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments (§ 15.05.030/.040), effective October 25, 2019, including the City's amended IRC Table R301.2(1) Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria. Source: Sedona City Code § 15.05.030/.040.; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage, 'Building Codes' list.; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019 (referenced in the Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Building Permit Packet's '2019 Amendments to Sedona City Code' insert). Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage; City of Sedona Swimming Pool and Spa Building Permit Packet.; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association, adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019 (one edition behind the 2018 ICC I-Codes set, consistent with the City's own stated rationale of aligning with 'surrounding communities and counties'). Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; Manufactured homes, mobile homes, and factory-built buildings are separately defined and regulated under Sedona City Code § 15.05.090 (adopting the Arizona Office of Manufactured Housing construction/installation standards per A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 16), with the City issuing its own 'Manufactured or factory built home permit' packet for placement, foundation, and site-related requirements. Source: Sedona City Code § 15.05.090; City of Sedona Permits page.; Building permit fees and valuation are governed by Sedona City Code § 15.05.060, which cross-references the City of Sedona Consolidated Fee Schedule (Valuation/Permit Fee Schedule and Unit Permit Fees) as the authoritative fee source rather than the ICC codes' own fee tables; the plan review fee is set at 65 percent of the calculated building permit fee when the permit fee is valuation-based. Source: Sedona City Code § 15.05.060 (sedona.municipal.codes/SCC/15.05.060).. Local amendments apply — see the Sedona overview page for the full list.

Yes, unless the project qualifies for the A.R.S. § 32-1121 owner-builder exemption. Public and semi-public pools and spas must always be constructed by a licensed swimming pool contractor.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-06.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Sedona building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.