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Fairfax Pool Permit Cost (2026)

Swimming pool permit fees in Fairfax County, Virginia, pulled directly from the official Appendix Q Land Development Services Fee Schedule (FY2027, effective July 1, 2026). Fairfax uses flat-fee pricing for in-ground swimming pools: an $83.50 flat building permit (Appendix Q I-B(M)), regardless of pool cost or pool size. Add Virginia's 2% state levy on the permit fee ($1.67) and the Fairfax County 10% technology surcharge on the same fee ($8.35), and an in-ground pool building permit totals $93.52 all-in. Pool barriers (the safety fence required by the Virginia Construction Code) are filed as a separate alteration permit when a new code-compliant fence is needed. Electrical and plumbing trade permits are also required for any pool with circulation equipment and are billed under their own tiered Fairfax schedules.

In-Ground Pool Building Permit
$83.50 flat (regardless of pool value)
Pool + Level One Trades
$411.06 (electrical + plumbing)
2% State Levy + 10% Tech Surcharge
$1.67 + $8.35 (on $83.50 permit fee)
All-In In-Ground Pool Permit
$93.52
Last Verified
September 18, 2026
Fee Status
Official Appendix Q FY2027
What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: Fairfax County, Virginia residential in-ground swimming pool building permit fees as published in the official Appendix Q Land Development Services Fee Schedule (FY2027, effective July 1, 2026). Coverage includes the $83.50 flat in-ground pool building permit, Virginia's 2% state levy on the permit fee ($1.67), the Fairfax County 10% technology surcharge on the same fee ($8.35), and the typical electrical and plumbing trade permits required for residential pool circulation, lighting, fill lines, and drains.

This guide does NOT cover: Above-ground pool permits (Appendix Q does not list above-ground swimming pools as a distinct flat-fee line item; consult Land Development Services for current treatment - they may fall under residential alteration or be exempt depending on depth and installation type). Commercial swimming pool permits (which fall under separate Appendix Q categories). Spa or hot tub permits filed without a pool. Zoning approvals required before permit submission (setback verification, lot coverage, RPA or floodplain overlays). Health Department fees or licensing for community or HOA pools. Right-of-way or driveway encroachment permits if construction access requires sidewalk closure. Landscape, irrigation, or stormwater permits triggered by pool installation. Costs from the pool installation contractor (excavation, shell, decking, equipment, labor).

Note on portable wading pools: The Virginia Construction Code (USBC) and the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code generally exempt portable wading pools designed to be drained and stored from building permit requirements. Anything semi-permanent, deeper than 24 inches, or with a circulation system requires a permit. Verify directly with Fairfax County Land Development Services at (703) 222-0801 before assuming exemption.

Note on pool barrier requirement: The Virginia Construction Code requires a barrier (fence, wall, or equivalent) around any residential pool with water depth greater than 24 inches. The Fairfax County Appendix Q schedule does not list a dedicated pool-barrier line item, so a new fence permit is filed as an accessory-structure permit: 3% of declared fence cost, $141.75 minimum. A 6-foot privacy fence with self-closing self-latching gates around a typical residential lot at $5,000 declared cost runs $168.00 all-in ($150 permit + $3.00 state levy + $15.00 technology surcharge); a fence declared at or below $4,725 floors to the $141.75 minimum permit, $158.77 all-in. If you already have a code-compliant yard fence, no additional barrier permit is needed - confirm with LDS before assuming.

Key Takeaways
  • Fairfax County uses flat-fee pricing for in-ground swimming pools: $83.50 regardless of declared pool value. This is structurally different from how Fairfax prices most other residential projects (decks, additions, kitchen remodels, basement finishes), which are billed at 3% of construction cost. The pool flat-fee carve-out is published in Appendix Q I-B(M) (FY2027, effective July 1, 2026).
  • Virginia's 2% state levy applies to the building permit fee ($83.50 x 2% = $1.67), and the Fairfax County 10% technology surcharge applies to the same fee ($83.50 x 10% = $8.35). Total all-in for an in-ground pool is $93.52.
  • Construction value does not affect the Fairfax pool permit fee. A $20,000 fiberglass shell pool and a $90,000 custom gunite pool both cost $93.52 in city building permit fees. The number you write on the application changes only the contractor scope, not the permit math.
  • Pool barriers (the safety fence required by the Virginia Construction Code for any pool with water depth greater than 24 inches) are filed as a separate accessory-structure permit when a new fence is required. Appendix Q does not list a dedicated pool-barrier flat fee, so the fence runs at 3% of declared fence value with a $141.75 minimum, plus the 2% levy and 10% technology surcharge.
  • Electrical and plumbing trade permits are required for any in-ground pool with circulation equipment and are billed separately. A residential pool electrical permit covering the sub-panel, pump, lighting and salt-cell circuits (up to 100 circuits or pieces of equipment) is the Level One base fee of $141.75 + $2.84 state levy + $14.18 technology surcharge = $158.77. A residential plumbing permit for the fill line and drain (up to 100 fixtures) is the same $158.77. Mechanical permits apply only if a gas pool heater is installed.
  • Fairfax's $93.52 in-ground pool permit is one of the cheapest among Northern Virginia jurisdictions because it is flat. Compare to Loudoun County ($260 outside incorporated towns, including county zoning; $95 county building fee inside a town, plus town fees), Richmond City ($63 + $6.07/$1k value formula), and Chesterfield County (flat $57 permit + $50 site fee + levy = $108.14, $14.62 more than Fairfax). High-cost pool builds favor flat-fee jurisdictions; low-cost pool builds favor percentage formulas.
  • A $30,000 in-ground pool with new barrier and standard electrical and plumbing trade permits lands near $580 all-in across all Fairfax permits ($93.52 pool + $168.00 barrier at $5,000 + $158.77 electrical + $158.77 plumbing = $579.06 at Level One trade scope). The pool building permit itself is the smallest line; trade permits and the barrier permit are the larger pieces. Budget for the full stack, not just the $93.52 pool line.
  • The Appendix Q FY2027 PDF (amendment 05-26-Q, adopted May 5, 2026, effective July 1, 2026) was downloaded directly from fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment and verified September 18, 2026. Next verification is due July 2027, when FY2028 rates may publish. Always verify current rates with Fairfax LDS at (703) 222-0801 before filing - rates change with each fiscal year.
Calculate Your Pool Permit All Fairfax Permit Fees

Fairfax Pool Permit Fee Components

Every Fairfax in-ground pool building permit is built from three components: the flat $83.50 building permit fee, Virginia's 2% state levy applied to that fee, and the Fairfax County 10% technology surcharge applied to the same fee. Pool barriers and trade permits are billed separately, each with their own component stack.

Component Amount How It Is Calculated
Building permit fee $83.50 Flat fee per Appendix Q I-B(M). Does not vary with pool value or pool size.
2% Virginia state levy $1.67 2% of the $83.50 building permit fee. Statutory under Code of Virginia §36-137 / USBC 107.2.
10% Fairfax technology surcharge $8.35 10% of the $83.50 building permit fee. Appendix Q Part III.
All-in in-ground pool permit total $93.52 $83.50 + $1.67 + $8.35. The fee any in-ground pool pays in Fairfax County, regardless of declared value.

Source: Fairfax County Appendix Q Land Development Services Fee Schedule, FY2027, effective July 1, 2026 - swimming_pool_inground line ($83.50 flat, I-B(M)), Virginia §36-137 state levy at 2% of the permit fee, and the 10% technology surcharge (Part III). Verified September 18, 2026. Half of the permit fee is due at application as a filing-fee deposit and is credited toward the permit fee at issuance (County Code 61-1-3(d)11); it is not an extra charge and is not refunded if the application expires.

Worked Examples - Real Pool Projects in Fairfax County

Each example shows arithmetic from the same Fairfax fee schedule. Because Appendix Q lists in-ground pools as a flat fee, the building permit math is identical across pool values - the differences come from optional add-ons (barrier permit, electrical, plumbing).

Example 1: $30,000 in-ground pool, building permit only (existing code-compliant fence)

A homeowner installs a 16 x 32 fiberglass in-ground pool. Their back yard already has a 6-foot privacy fence with self-closing self-latching gates that meets the Virginia Construction Code barrier requirements, so no separate fence permit is required. They will pull electrical and plumbing trade permits separately through their installer.

  • Building permit fee (flat): $83.50
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $83.50 permit fee: $1.67
  • 10% Fairfax technology surcharge on $83.50 permit fee: $8.35
  • Total in-ground pool building permit: $93.52

Note: the construction value ($30,000 in this scenario) does not affect the Fairfax in-ground pool building permit fee. The same $93.52 applies whether the pool is declared at $20,000 or $80,000 - Appendix Q lists the swimming_pool_inground line as a flat fee. Trade permits and any new fence permit are billed separately.

Example 2: $50,000 in-ground pool with new pool barrier (no existing fence)

A homeowner installs a 18 x 36 gunite in-ground pool with declared construction cost of $50,000. The yard has no existing fence, so a new code-compliant pool barrier is required. The barrier is a wood privacy fence with self-closing gates, declared at $5,000.

In-ground pool building permit:

  • Building permit fee: $83.50 flat
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $83.50: $1.67
  • 10% Fairfax technology surcharge on $83.50: $8.35
  • Subtotal: $93.52

Pool barrier (accessory-structure permit, $5,000 declared fence cost):

  • Building permit fee: max($5,000 x 3%, $141.75 min) = $150.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $150: $3.00
  • 10% Fairfax technology surcharge on $150: $15.00
  • Subtotal: $168.00

Combined building permit total: $261.52 - not including electrical and plumbing trade permits.

Note: pool barrier fence is filed as an accessory-structure permit in Fairfax because Appendix Q does not list a dedicated pool-barrier line. The 3% of value formula applies to the fence cost, not the pool cost. If the fence is declared at $4,725 or below, the $141.75 minimum applies and the barrier permit subtotal is $141.75 + $2.84 + $14.18 = $158.77.

Example 3: $30,000 in-ground pool with electrical and plumbing trade permits (existing fence)

The same $30,000 in-ground pool from Example 1, this time itemizing the typical trade permits a residential pool requires. Trade permit costs depend on actual installer scope; this example uses the Level One base fee from Fairfax's Appendix Q FY2027 trade permit schedule (up to 100 fixtures, circuits or pieces of equipment). Trade permits carry the 2% levy and 10% technology surcharge.

In-ground pool building permit (from Example 1): $93.52

Electrical permit (pool sub-panel, pump, lighting and salt-cell circuits, Level One):

  • Trade permit fee (Level One base): $141.75
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $141.75: $2.84
  • 10% Fairfax technology surcharge on $141.75: $14.18
  • Subtotal: $158.77

Plumbing permit (pool fill line and main drain, Level One):

  • Trade permit fee (Level One base): $141.75
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $141.75: $2.84
  • 10% Fairfax technology surcharge on $141.75: $14.18
  • Subtotal: $158.77

Combined permit total (estimate): $411.06

Estimate caveat: the electrical and plumbing trade permits use the Appendix Q FY2027 Level One base fee, which covers a residential trade permit with up to 100 fixtures, circuits or pieces of equipment. A typical residential pool (sub-panel, pump, salt cell, heater and lighting circuits; fill, main drain, skimmers, equalizers and return jets) stays inside that threshold. Scopes above 100 items are priced by LDS above Level One; confirm with LDS (703-222-0801). Treat the trade permit subtotals here as the Level One floor; your installer's permit application is the source of truth.

Calculate Your Fairfax Pool Permit

The PermitPrice fee calculator supports Fairfax in-ground pool, residential alteration (used for pool barrier fence permits), and several trade permit categories directly. Pick your project type and enter the construction value (used for the validation flow - the Fairfax pool fee itself is flat regardless of value), and the calculator returns the all-in permit cost broken down by component.

Calculator coverage for Fairfax pools: in-ground pool ($93.52 all-in), the 3% accessory-structure formula (used for new fence/barrier permits), and Level One trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical).

Open the Permit Fee Calculator

For a new pool barrier permit, run the calculator using the residential alteration formula with your declared fence cost. Trade permits (electrical pool grounding, plumbing fill/drain) are tiered by amperage and fixture count - your installer's permit application is the final source of truth.

Trade Permits Fairfax Requires for Pools

A residential in-ground pool installation almost always pulls additional electrical and plumbing trade permits beyond the building permit and any new fence permit. Fairfax bills these under separate Appendix Q tiered schedules with their own state levy. Your pool installer typically pulls these on your behalf, but the costs land on the homeowner.

Trade Permit Component Fairfax Fee When It Applies
Electrical (Level One, up to 100 circuits or pieces of equipment) $141.75 + 2% levy + 10% tech = $158.77 Covers the pool sub-panel, pump, salt cell, heater and lighting circuits on a typical residential pool
Electrical (above Level One) Priced by LDS above $141.75 Only when the electrical scope exceeds 100 circuits or pieces of equipment; confirm with LDS (703-222-0801)
Plumbing (Level One, up to 100 fixtures) $141.75 + 2% levy + 10% tech = $158.77 Pool fill line, main drain, skimmers, equalizers and return jets all fit inside Level One
Plumbing (above Level One) Priced by LDS above $141.75 Only when plumbing scope exceeds 100 fixtures; not a residential pool scenario
Mechanical (Level One, gas heater) $141.75 + 2% levy + 10% tech = $158.77 Only required if a gas-fired pool heater is installed. Heat pumps are electrical only.
Trade permit minimum $141.75 base No permit is issued below the $141.75 base fee (Appendix Q I-A.1). The 2% levy and 10% technology surcharge apply on top.
Reinspection $141.75 per visit Charged when a pool electrical, plumbing or barrier inspection fails and must be repeated

Source: Fairfax County Appendix Q Land Development Services Fee Schedule, FY2027, effective July 1, 2026 - Level One trade permit base fee ($141.75, up to 100 fixtures, circuits or pieces of equipment) and reinspection fee ($141.75). All trade permit fees are subject to the 2% Virginia state levy and the 10% Fairfax technology surcharge. Verified September 18, 2026.

Fairfax Pool Permit Cost vs Other Verified Virginia Jurisdictions

Fairfax's $93.52 in-ground pool permit is the cheapest in the verified Virginia cluster for any pool declared above about $6,000 (below that, Richmond's value formula is lower); Loudoun inside an incorporated town ($95.00 to $96.90, plus town fees) and Chesterfield ($108.14) are next. Flat-fee jurisdictions (Fairfax, Chesterfield, Norfolk) decouple permit cost from pool value entirely; formula-based jurisdictions (Henrico, Richmond, Virginia Beach) charge more for higher-cost pool builds. The same $30,000 in-ground pool runs from $93.52 in Fairfax and $108.14 in Chesterfield to $314.00 in Virginia Beach across these jurisdictions - and Fairfax's flat $93.52 stays the same whether the pool is declared at $30,000 or $90,000.

Jurisdiction In-Ground Pool Formula $30,000 Pool All-In
Fairfax County $83.50 flat + 2% levy + 10% tech $93.52
Chesterfield County $57 flat + 2% levy on $57 + $50 site fee $108.14
Norfolk City $125 flat + $50 plan review + $15 + 2% levy $192.50
Henrico County $100 + $6/$1k over $5k (capped $680) $255.00
Virginia Beach City $50 + $5/$1,000 alteration formula $314.00
Richmond City $63 + $6.07/$1k over $2k (no cap) $237.62

All-in totals include the building permit fee, plan review (where bundled or separate), jurisdiction processing/technology fees, and the 2% Virginia state levy. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing) are excluded from these totals because they vary by installer scope. Fairfax flat $83.50 reflects the swimming_pool_inground line (I-B(M)) in Appendix Q FY2027; Chesterfield, Henrico, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk use the verified formulas in their respective source.json files.

Side-by-Side Math

For full breakdowns of how Fairfax compares against other verified jurisdictions on pools, decks, and alterations, see the dedicated comparison pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Fairfax County in-ground swimming pool building permit costs $93.52 all-in: $83.50 flat building permit fee + $1.67 Virginia state levy (2% of the permit fee) + $8.35 Fairfax technology surcharge (10% of the permit fee). The flat fee is published in Appendix Q FY2027 (I-B(M)) and does not vary with pool value or pool size. Pool barrier fence (if a new one is needed) is filed as a separate accessory-structure permit at 3% of fence cost. Electrical and plumbing trade permits are required and priced separately at the Level One base fee. Budget roughly $580 ($579.06) for the full pool permit stack with Level One electrical and plumbing permits and a $5,000 declared fence cost.
Appendix Q I-B(M) lists the in-ground swimming pool line as a flat fee of $83.50, separate from how Fairfax prices most other residential projects. Decks, additions, kitchen remodels, basement finishes, and most alterations are billed at 3% of declared construction cost (with a $141.75 minimum). Pools, like a small set of other carve-outs, get a flat rate. The 2% state levy and the 10% technology surcharge still apply on top, but the underlying building permit fee itself does not move with the pool value. A $20,000 pool and an $80,000 pool both pay $93.52 for the in-ground pool building permit.
If a code-compliant fence is not already in place, yes. The Virginia Construction Code requires a barrier (fence, wall, or equivalent) around any residential pool with water depth greater than 24 inches. The Fairfax Appendix Q schedule does not list a dedicated pool-barrier flat fee, so the new fence is filed as an accessory-structure permit at 3% of declared fence cost (with a $141.75 minimum), plus the 2% state levy and 10% technology surcharge. A typical $5,000 wood privacy fence with self-closing gates runs $168.00 all-in for the fence permit. If your existing yard fence already meets pool barrier requirements (minimum height, self-closing self-latching gates, no climbable pool side), no additional permit is required - confirm with Fairfax LDS before assuming.
No. Fairfax handles electrical and plumbing trade permits as separate applications under the Appendix Q FY2027 trade permit schedule. A residential pool electrical permit (sub-panel, pump, lighting and salt-cell circuits, up to 100 items) is the Level One base fee of $141.75 + $2.84 state levy + $14.18 technology surcharge = $158.77. A plumbing permit (pool fill line and main drain count as separate fixtures, up to 100) is the same $158.77. If a gas pool heater is installed, add a mechanical permit at $158.77. Each trade permit carries the levy and technology surcharge. Heat pumps and electric pool heaters do not require a separate mechanical permit because they are wired through the electrical permit instead.
The Fairfax Appendix Q FY2027 schedule's swimming_pool_inground line is the only flat-fee swimming pool line PermitPrice has verified. Above-ground pools, spas, and hot tubs are not listed as separate flat-fee categories in the FY2027 version of Appendix Q we extracted on September 18, 2026. In practice, Fairfax LDS typically routes above-ground pools and spas through the residential alteration formula (3% of declared cost, $141.75 minimum), but the project type guardrail in PermitPrice doctrine prevents us from publishing that fee as verified without an explicit Appendix Q line. Confirm directly with Fairfax LDS at (703) 222-0801 before filing for an above-ground pool, spa, or hot tub - they will tell you which permit type and which fee category applies.
Fairfax County does not publish a guaranteed turnaround for residential pool permits, but a complete residential pool application submitted through the PLUS (Planning and Land Use System) portal at plus.fairfaxcounty.gov typically receives plan review feedback within 2-4 weeks during normal volume, longer during peak summer permit season. The complete application package is the residential building permit application, a site plan showing pool location and setbacks, the manufacturer's specification sheet for the pool shell and equipment, the barrier specification (if a new fence is required), the electrical and plumbing trade permit applications filed in parallel, and the soils or stormwater documentation triggered by the pool excavation. Call (703) 222-0801 or check the PLUS portal status before assuming a timeline.
The cross-jurisdiction differences come from each schedule's structure, not from any quality difference in the inspection scope. Chesterfield ($108.14 all-in for any pool), Norfolk ($192.50 in-ground / $116 above-ground), and Fairfax ($93.52 in-ground) all use flat fees that decouple pool value from permit fee. Henrico ($100 + $6/$1k over $5k, capped at $680), Richmond ($63 + $6.07/$1k over $2k, no cap), and Virginia Beach ($50 + $5/$1k value formula) use percentage formulas that scale with pool cost. Only for very low-cost pools (at or below $6,000 declared) does Richmond's value formula come in below Fairfax's $93.52; at $20,000 Henrico is $193.80 and Richmond $175.71, and the gap to the flat-fee jurisdictions widens as pool cost rises because a flat fee does not move with the pool price. Loudoun is also flat but depends on location: $260 outside incorporated towns (county zoning included) or a $95 county building fee inside a town plus the town's own zoning fee; its published fees do not say whether the required 2% state levy is already included, which can add up to $1.90. Fairfax's $93.52 is the lowest of the flat-fee group here, and a $90,000 luxury pool still pays $93.52 - dramatically less than the same pool would cost under Fairfax's standard 3% alteration formula ($2,700 permit + $54 levy + $270 technology surcharge = $3,024). The flat-fee carve-out is a structural advantage for high-end pools.
No. The $93.52 Fairfax in-ground pool building permit fee is the county building permit cost only - the cost to apply, get plan review, and have inspections performed. It does not include any pool contractor work. A 16 x 32 fiberglass in-ground pool installed in the Northern Virginia market typically runs $55,000-$95,000 for the contractor scope (excavation, shell, decking, equipment, labor). A custom gunite pool with hardscape, lighting, and salt system runs $100,000-$200,000+. The permit fee is one of the smallest line items in your overall pool project budget; the bulk is contractor scope. PermitPrice tracks only the city/county permit fee component.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified September 2026
  • Appendix Q - LDS Fee Schedule (FY2027) - Fairfax County Effective July 1, 2026 - Fairfax County Land Development Services - Appendix Q FY2027 (amendment 05-26-Q, adopted May 5, 2026, effective July 1, 2026). Primary source for the in-ground swimming pool flat fee ($83.50, I-B(M)), accessory-structure formula (3% of declared value, I-B(D)), Level One trade permit base fee ($141.75), 2% state levy (I-A.12) and 10% technology surcharge (Part III). Verified September 18, 2026 Verified
  • Land Development Services - Fairfax County Accessed September 18, 2026 - Fairfax County Land Development Services - Index page linking the Appendix Q PDF, the PLUS (Planning and Land Use System) online portal, residential permit application forms, and inspection scheduling. Phone (703) 222-0801
  • Code of Virginia Section 36-137 - USBC State Levy Authority Current - Virginia General Assembly - Authorizing statute for the statewide 2% building permit surcharge applied across all Virginia jurisdictions, including Fairfax County pool permits
Next Step

Calculate your specific Fairfax pool permit cost, see all Fairfax fee categories, or compare against Northern Virginia neighbors.

Always verify current pool permit fees directly with Fairfax County Land Development Services before budgeting or filing. The Appendix Q LDS Fee Schedule on fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment is FY2027 (amendment 05-26-Q, effective July 1, 2026) and is the current published rate sheet as of September 18, 2026, with an expected FY2028 revision around July 2027. Call (703) 222-0801 or use the PLUS portal at plus.fairfaxcounty.gov to confirm pool, fence, and trade permit rates and project classification before submitting an application. Confirm above-ground pool, spa, and hot tub fee categories with LDS - these are not on a separate Appendix Q line and may run through the residential alteration formula instead of the flat pool fee.
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by Fairfax County Land Development Services at the time of application. Trade permit subtotals in this guide use the published Appendix Q tiers for typical residential pool scope; actual electrical and plumbing permit costs depend on installer scope and may run higher. Pool barrier requirements vary based on existing yard fence compliance with the Virginia Construction Code; verify directly with LDS before assuming an existing fence meets pool barrier code. Above-ground pool, spa, and hot tub permit treatment is not a verified Appendix Q line item and should be confirmed with LDS before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.