Skip to main content
PermitBase

Swimming Pool / Spa Permit in Unincorporated Ada County, Idaho

Required for in-ground swimming pools, above-ground pools, and spas in unincorporated Ada County. Governed by the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) as adopted via Ordinance #919. A special barrier acknowledgment letter signed by the contractor and property owner is required BEFORE Ada County will issue the pool building permit. Unfinished pool permits (no final inspection within one year) trigger a property alert preventing new building permits.

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Swimming Pool/Spa Permit Application plus full plans required
  • Barrier acknowledgment letter (Page 2 of the combined pool application) signed by both the contractor and the property owner must be submitted and received by Ada County BEFORE the building permit is issued
  • All pools/spas must comply with 2018 ISPSC barrier requirements
  • Final inspection must be requested within one year of permit issuance or an alert is placed on the property preventing further building permits

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 2 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →

Fee schedule

Swimming pool building permit feeBarrier acknowledgment letter must be on file before permit is issued.
Valuation-based per Ada County 2025 Fee Schedule (Resolution 3149); see adacounty.id.gov/developmentservices/permitting-division/fees/

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Ada County building department
~5–14 business days

How long did your Swimming Pool / Spa Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Ada County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Excavation / Steel / Shell

    Before gunite or shotcrete application — verify excavation, rebar, and plumbing per 2018 ISPSC

  2. 2

    Barrier / Fence

    Pool safety barrier verified per 2018 ISPSC Chapter 3 requirements before pool is placed in service

  3. 3

    Final

    All work complete, pool filled, equipment operational, all barriers in place. Must be requested within one year of permit issuance.

See the full Unincorporated Ada County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • The barrier acknowledgment letter (Page 2 of the combined pool application, signed by both the contractor and the property owner) must be in Ada County's possession BEFORE the building permit will be issued.
  • If a final inspection is not requested within one year of the pool permit issuance date, Ada County places a property alert that prevents all further building permits on the parcel until the pool passes final.
  • Ada County uses the 2018 ISPSC — check Chapter 3 barrier requirements for pool fence height, gate self-latching, and climbability standards.
  • Electrical for pool equipment is under the Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS), not Ada County.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Ada County requires a swimming pool / spa permit for: Swimming Pool/Spa Permit Application plus full plans required; Barrier acknowledgment letter (Page 2 of the combined pool application) signed by both the contractor and the property owner must be submitted and received by Ada County BEFORE the building permit is issued; All pools/spas must comply with 2018 ISPSC barrier requirements; Final inspection must be requested within one year of permit issuance or an alert is placed on the property preventing further building permits. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Ada County Development Services — Building Division at 208-287-7900 before starting work.

In Unincorporated Ada County, the published Swimming pool building permit fee is: Valuation-based per Ada County 2025 Fee Schedule (Resolution 3149); see adacounty.id.gov/developmentservices/permitting-division/fees/. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a swimming pool / spa permit in Unincorporated Ada County typically runs 5–14 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Ada County Development Services — Building Division at 208-287-7900.

You'll need: Swimming Pool Permit Application (Combined 2026) — including Barrier Acknowledgment Letter; Pool/Spa Plans. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Ada County requires 3 inspection(s) for a swimming pool / spa permit, in order: Excavation / Steel / Shell, Barrier / Fence, Final. Schedule each through Ada County Development Services — Building Division (208-287-7900).

Apply through Ada County Development Services — Building Division at 200 W. Front Street (Ada County Courthouse, 2nd Floor), Boise, ID 83702-7300. Phone: 208-287-7900, email: mechanical@adacounty.id.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Official information: https://adacounty.id.gov/developmentservices/building-division/.

Unincorporated Ada County, Idaho has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted via Ordinance #919, Ada County Code; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Commercial Provisions; Residential as modified by Idaho Statute Title 39 Chapter 41; adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Urban-Wildland Interface Code (IUWIC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted via Ordinance #919. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Ada County overview page for the full list.

Due to a high volume of pool permits that never received final inspections, Ada County now requires a signed acknowledgment letter from both the contractor and the property owner before the building permit is issued. This letter confirms awareness of pool barrier requirements under the 2018 ISPSC. If a final inspection is not requested within one year, a property alert is placed preventing future building permits. Source: Swimming Pool Permit Application (Combined 2026), adacounty.id.gov/developmentservices.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-29.

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 Unincorporated Ada County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Other permits in Unincorporated Ada County

Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition)Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Tenant Improvement)Mechanical / HVAC PermitGrading & Drainage PermitAgricultural Structure Permit (Zoning Certificate)Solar Photovoltaic (PV) PermitEV Charger / EVSE Electrical Permit

Swimming Pool / Spa Permit in other cities

Lewiston, IdahoStar, IdahoBullhead City, ArizonaCoolidge, ArizonaEagle Mountain, UtahEast Helena, MontanaFlorence, ArizonaGilbert, Arizona

Compare swimming pool / spa permit fees across Idaho →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Unincorporated Ada County project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Unincorporated Ada County — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →