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Chesapeake Pool Permit Cost (2026)

Residential swimming pool building permit fees in Chesapeake, Virginia, pulled directly from the City of Chesapeake Department of Development and Permits Fee Schedule (revised December 31, 2025). Chesapeake prices a pool permit as a set of itemized lines rather than a percentage of cost, so the figure is fixed: an in-ground pool is a fully itemized $275.00 all-in, and an above-ground pool is $198.50 all-in - regardless of how much the pool costs.

In-ground pool
$275.00 all-in
Above-ground pool
$198.50 all-in
Fee basis
Itemized flat - not value-based
State levy
2% on permit + admin + plan review
Barrier & electrical
Separate permits
Fee Status
Official schedule - figures exact
What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: Chesapeake, VA residential swimming pool building permit fees as published in the City of Chesapeake Fee Schedule (rev 12/31/2025). Coverage includes the fully itemized in-ground pool permit ($275 all-in), the above-ground pool permit ($198.50 all-in), and how the $50 permit/admin/plan-review lines, the $10 zoning and $10 technology fees, and the 2% Virginia state levy combine.

This guide does NOT cover: The required pool barrier/fence, which is a separate value-based permit; pool electrical work (pump, heater, lighting bonding), which is a separate electrical trade permit on its own schedule; Public Utilities and Health Department fees; and the pool contractor's construction cost. Hot tubs and spas follow the same pool permit line on the schedule.

Why the fee does not change with pool price: Chesapeake itemizes the pool permit ($150 in-ground / $75 above-ground building permit fee) plus fixed administrative, plan review, zoning, and technology lines. None of these scale with the pool's construction value, so a $30,000 pool and a $90,000 pool carry the same $275 in-ground permit.

Key Takeaways
  • An in-ground residential pool permit in Chesapeake is a fixed $275.00 all-in, itemized from the $150 in-ground permit fee plus admin, plan review, zoning, technology, and the 2% levy. The pool's construction value does not change it.
  • An above-ground pool is $198.50 all-in, using the $75 above-ground permit fee in place of the $150 in-ground fee. Hot tubs and spas follow the same pool line.
  • The 2% Virginia state levy applies only to the permit fee + administrative fee + building plan review ($250 in-ground), not to the $10 zoning plan review or the $10 technology fee - so the levy is exactly $5.00 on an in-ground pool.
  • The required pool barrier/fence is a separate, value-based permit ($50 admin + $50 building plan review + $15 per $1,000 of fence value + zoning, technology, and the 2% levy). Budget it on top of the pool permit.
  • Pool electrical work - pump, heater, lighting, and equipotential bonding - is a separate electrical trade permit on its own Chesapeake schedule and is not included in the $275 figure.
  • Compared with value-based jurisdictions, Chesapeake's flat $275 can beat a percentage pool fee on an expensive pool but cost more on a modest one. See the comparison table below for verified peers.
Open the Permit Fee Calculator All Chesapeake Permit Fees

Chesapeake Pool Permit Fee Structure

Chesapeake itemizes the pool permit. The only line that changes between an in-ground and an above-ground pool is the permit fee itself ($150 vs $75); every other line is identical. Because none of the lines scale with pool cost, the all-in total is a fixed number.

Component In-Ground Above-Ground
Permit fee $150.00 $75.00
Administrative fee $50.00 $50.00
Building plan review $50.00 $50.00
Zoning plan review (no levy) $10.00 $10.00
Technology fee (no levy) $10.00 $10.00
2% state levy $5.00 $3.50
All-in total $275.00 $198.50

Source: City of Chesapeake Department of Development and Permits Fee Schedule (rev 12/31/2025), p. 33. The 2% levy applies to the permit + administrative + building plan review lines ($250 in-ground / $175 above-ground), not to the zoning or technology fees. The required pool barrier and any pool electrical work are separate permits.

Worked Examples - Real Pool Projects in Chesapeake

Each example uses the same itemized pool fee. Because Chesapeake does not price the pool permit by value, the building permit cost is the same whether the pool is modest or high-end.

Example 1: In-ground gunite pool, $60,000 build

A homeowner installs a $60,000 in-ground gunite pool. The building permit is itemized and does not depend on the $60,000 cost.

  • Permit fee + admin + building plan review = $250.00
  • Zoning plan review + technology fee (no levy) = $20.00
  • 2% state levy on the $250 base = $5.00
  • Total all-in pool building permit: $275.00

The $60,000 construction value is irrelevant to the fee - a $30,000 pool and a $90,000 pool of the same type both pay $275.00 for the building permit. The barrier fence and pool electrical permit are separate.

Example 2: Above-ground pool

A homeowner installs an above-ground pool. The only change from the in-ground case is the permit fee line ($75 instead of $150).

  • Permit fee $75 + admin $50 + building plan review $50 = $175.00
  • Zoning plan review + technology fee (no levy) = $20.00
  • 2% state levy on the $175 base = $3.50
  • Total all-in pool building permit: $198.50

A hot tub or spa follows the same pool permit line on the schedule. Confirm whether your specific above-ground installation requires a barrier with the Department of Development and Permits.

Example 3: In-ground pool plus required barrier fence and electrical

A homeowner installs an in-ground pool and must add a code-required barrier fence and pool electrical (pump, lighting). Each is a separate permit.

Pool building permit:

  • In-ground pool permit (itemized) = $275.00

Pool barrier fence permit (value-based, illustrative $4,000 fence):

  • $50 admin + $50 building plan review + ($15 × 4) permit = $160.00
  • Zoning $10 + technology $10 (no levy) + 2% levy on $160 ($3.20) = $23.20
  • Illustrative barrier permit subtotal = $183.20

Pool electrical trade permit:

  • Separate electrical schedule (p. 39) - not priced here

The $275 pool permit is exact. The $183.20 barrier figure is illustrative because it depends on the declared fence value ($4,000 assumed). Pool electrical is a separate trade permit not priced on this page. Confirm exact figures with the Department of Development and Permits.

Chesapeake Pool Permit Cost vs Other Verified Jurisdictions

Chesapeake's flat $275 in-ground pool permit sits in the middle of the verified cluster. The comparison mixes fee bases - flat-itemized, value-based percentage, and flat - so read the basis column, not just the dollar figure.

Jurisdiction Pool Fee Basis Typical In-Ground Pool Permit
Chesapeake, VA $275 flat-itemized $275.00
Hampton, VA 0.39% of value + $10 + 2% $208.90 ($50k pool)
Fairfax County, VA $270 flat + 50% PR + 2% levy $413.10
Henrico County, VA value-based formula $255.00 ($30k pool)
Washington, DC $260 flat + 10% Enhanced $286.00

Chesapeake, Fairfax, and DC price the pool permit as a flat/itemized fee; Hampton and Henrico use value-based methods (a value is shown where the fee depends on cost). Pool barrier fences and pool electrical permits are excluded because they vary by project. Each figure links to that jurisdiction's verified page.

Side-by-Side Math

See how Chesapeake compares head-to-head against its Hampton Roads neighbor.

Frequently Asked Questions

An in-ground residential pool building permit is a fully itemized $275.00 all-in: a $150 permit fee + $50 administrative + $50 building plan review + $10 zoning plan review + $10 technology fee + $5.00 state levy (2% of the $250 levy base). An above-ground pool is $198.50 all-in. The figure does not change with the pool's cost. The required barrier fence and pool electrical work are separate permits. Source: City of Chesapeake Fee Schedule, rev 12/31/2025.
No. Chesapeake itemizes the pool building permit with flat lines - a $150 in-ground permit fee plus fixed administrative, plan review, zoning, and technology charges. None of these scale with the pool's construction value, so a $30,000 pool and a $90,000 pool both carry the same $275.00 in-ground building permit. This is different from value-based cities like Hampton, where the pool permit is a percentage of the pool's declared cost.
No. The code-required pool barrier fence is a separate, value-based fence permit: $50 administrative + $50 building plan review + $15 per $1,000 of fence value, plus the $10 zoning, $10 technology, and 2% levy lines. On an illustrative $4,000 barrier that works out to about $183.20. Budget the barrier on top of the $275 pool permit, and confirm the exact figure with the Department of Development and Permits.
Almost certainly. Pool pumps, heaters, lighting, and required equipotential bonding are electrical work, filed as a separate electrical trade permit on Chesapeake's electrical schedule (p. 39). That fee is not part of the $275 pool building permit and is not priced on this page. Your pool builder or electrician usually pulls it - confirm who is responsible before work begins.
The 2% Virginia state levy applies only to the permit fee + administrative fee + building plan review - which is $150 + $50 + $50 = $250 for an in-ground pool. 2% of $250 is exactly $5.00. The $10 zoning plan review and the $10 technology fee are outside the levy base, so they are not multiplied by 2%. For an above-ground pool the base is $175 and the levy is $3.50.
Chesapeake's flat $275 in-ground pool permit is lower than Fairfax County ($413.10) and Washington, DC ($286.00), and close to Henrico County ($255 on a $30,000 pool). Against value-based Hampton (0.39%), Chesapeake is more expensive on a modest pool but cheaper once the pool's value climbs past roughly $61,000. See the comparison table above and our Chesapeake vs Hampton page for the full math.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified June 2026
Next Step

Confirm your specific Chesapeake pool permit cost or compare against neighbors.

Always verify current pool permit fees directly with the Chesapeake Department of Development and Permits before budgeting or filing. The fees on this page are from the City of Chesapeake Fee Schedule revised December 31, 2025. The required pool barrier fence and pool electrical permits are separate. Call 757-382-6018 or apply at cityofchesapeake.net/ebuild to confirm current rates before submitting an application.
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by the City of Chesapeake Department of Development and Permits at the time of application. The $275 in-ground and $198.50 above-ground pool figures are exact from the rev 12/31/2025 schedule; the barrier fence figure is illustrative and depends on declared value. Pool electrical and other trade permits are billed separately. Fee schedules can change without notice - verify all fees directly with the department before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.