How long a swimming pool or spa permit takes
Calendar days from application to issued permit. The fastest tenth of permits were issued within 27 days; the median was 78; one in ten took more than 321. The difference is mostly the lot and the applicant: what the site triggers and how complete the first submittal is.
By council district
District 8 was the fastest (median 36 days) and District 3 the slowest (144 days). Districts with fewer than 20 permits are left out.
| District | Permits | Median days | Slowest tenth over |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 8 | 62 | 36 | 249 |
| District 7 | 127 | 57 | 230 |
| District 5 | 110 | 78 | 282 |
| District 10 | 132 | 88 | 356 |
| District 9 | 63 | 106 | 371 |
| District 1 | 46 | 108 | 294 |
| District 3 | 72 | 144 | 573 |
Year by year
| Year issued | Permits | Median days | Slowest tenth over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 347 | 78 | 224 |
| 2022 | 311 | 114 | 360 |
| 2023 | 255 | 124 | 434 |
| 2024 | 291 | 96 | 516 |
| 2025 | 329 | 92 | 364 |
What slows it down
Site conditions such as floodplains, creek setbacks, historic districts, protected trees and drinking water protection zones add reviews. A readiness check tells you which apply to your lot.
What you need to submit
The core of the submittal for a swimming pool or spa in Austin. Your lot can add items, for example a tree survey or floodplain documents; a readiness check lists them.
- Residential pool permit application: signed by the owner, or with the owner's authorization letter
- Plot plan to scale: property lines, existing and proposed structures, the pool, easements, zoning setbacks, trees 19 inches and up, water meter and utility lines
- Pool construction drawings: plan and elevations from the pool builder
- Impervious cover, existing and proposed: the pool water surface does not count; paved decking does; uncovered wood decks over soil count at 50%
- Austin Energy service plan application (BSPA): shows overhead and underground electric lines; reviewed alongside the permit
- Safety barrier: fence, self-closing and self-latching gates, and door alarms where the house wall is part of the barrier, to the City's swimming pool code
- Plumbing permit: if the pool has an autofill or a heater; electrical work needs its own trade permit
- Third-party pool inspection checklist: uploaded to the City's permit portal before the final inspection
Dirt to Permit is not the City of Austin. Confirm every requirement with the City's Development Services Department. How these numbers are computed.