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Swimming Pool / Spa Permit in Unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada

Required for construction of new in-ground or above-ground swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs in unincorporated Washoe County. Governed by the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and the 2024 IRC. A separate electrical permit is also required.

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Submit Pool Permit Application (2021) via ONe NV permit portal
  • Review Residential Pool and Spa Handout (2022) before submitting
  • Plans must include site plan showing pool location, setbacks, fencing/barrier details, and equipment location
  • Barrier/fence enclosure meeting WCC Chapter 100 and 2024 IRC R326 required before pool can be used
  • Separate electrical permit required for pool wiring, bonding, and underwater lighting

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Private swimming pool, spa, or hot tub — permit feeWCC Chapter 100, Appendix A, Table 7, item 1 (Private): $45.00 flat
$45.00
Pool filling system including backflow prevention — 2 inch diameter or smallerTable 7, item 2 — in addition to pool permit fee
$6.00
Water heater and/or vent (pool heater)Table 7, item 3
$6.00
Gas piping system (pool heater gas line)Table 7, item 4
$10.00
Electrical permit for pool — private residential in-ground pool (complete system)Table 8, Private Swimming Pools — separate electrical permit required
$45.00 base + $15.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Washoe County building department
~5–20 business days

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

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Excavation / Pre-Gunite

    Steel reinforcement installed, before gunite/concrete — verify setbacks and dimensions

  2. 2

    Rough Plumbing / Electrical

    Plumbing lines and electrical bonding before backfill and decking

  3. 3

    Barrier / Fencing

    Pool barrier and fence enclosure installed before pool can be filled

  4. 4

    Final

    Equipment operational, safety covers, anti-entrapment drains, electrical bonding/grounding verified

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

Tips

  • The pool permit fee in Washoe County is a flat $45 for a private residential pool — separate fees apply for the pool heater, gas piping, and electrical work.
  • Pool barrier must be installed and inspected before the pool can be filled or used.
  • Above-ground pools under 24 inches in depth are exempt from permit per the county's exempt-work list.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Washoe County requires a swimming pool / spa permit for: Submit Pool Permit Application (2021) via ONe NV permit portal; Review Residential Pool and Spa Handout (2022) before submitting; Plans must include site plan showing pool location, setbacks, fencing/barrier details, and equipment location; Barrier/fence enclosure meeting WCC Chapter 100 and 2024 IRC R326 required before pool can be used; Separate electrical permit required for pool wiring, bonding, and underwater lighting. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Washoe County Building Program at (775) 328-2020 before starting work.

The base pool permit fee is $45 flat for a private residential pool (Table 7). Additional fees apply for the pool heater ($6), gas piping ($10), and a separate electrical permit ($45 base + $15) for the pool wiring and bonding. Total typical permit cost is $121 before any trade permit variations.

Plan review for a swimming pool / spa permit in Unincorporated Washoe County typically runs 5–20 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Washoe County Building Program at (775) 328-2020.

You'll need: Pool Permit Application (2021). Depending on your project, Unincorporated Washoe County may also ask for: Residential Pool and Spa Handout (2022). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Washoe County requires 4 inspection(s) for a swimming pool / spa permit, in order: Excavation / Pre-Gunite, Rough Plumbing / Electrical, Barrier / Fencing, Final. Schedule each through Washoe County Building Program ((775) 328-2020).

Apply through Washoe County Building Program at 1001 E. Ninth Street, Building A, Reno, NV 89512. Phone: (775) 328-2020, email: building@washoecounty.gov. Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Official information: https://www.washoecounty.gov/building/.

Unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), Chapters 1–35 — effective July 1, 2025 (compliance mandatory January 1, 2026); adopted per Washoe County Code Chapter 100 with 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapters 1–44 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — effective July 1, 2025; Nevada statewide energy floor per NRS 701.220 (eff. 2024-08-18) also applies; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), Chapters 1–8 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), Chapters 1–15 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 NFPA 54 and NFPA 58 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments by the Northern Nevada Chapter of the International Code Council (NNICC) — incorporated by reference. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Washoe County overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.

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

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Swimming Pool / Spa Permit in other cities

Carson City, NevadaDouglas County, NevadaHenderson, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaMesquite, NevadaNorth Las Vegas, NevadaReno, NevadaSparks, Nevada

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