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A house with a swimming pool is a little dream common to many people who want to beat the summer heat and transform their garden into a paradise of well-being. However, obtaining permits for a pool can prove tricky and put off the desire to deal with the work and bureaucracy.
If you've always dreamed of a personal pool but don't know where to start, you're in the right place. In this Casavo guide, you'll find all the information you need about permits for an in-ground or above-ground pool
In-ground and above-ground pools: what are the differences
A swimming pool is the perfect element for designing your garden furniture with style and elegance. Great for sharing with loved ones, swimming pools make both adults and children happy and bring summer into your home whenever you want.
Let's start with the basics: what does the pool you've always dreamed of look like? Is it a classic dug-in pool or a more modern outdoor structure? Depending on your preferred model, you'll need different work and permits.
On an administrative level, the main difference between an in-ground pool and above-ground pools is how they are installed. The former requires a hole in the ground in which the system will then be installed. The latter, however, are placed on the ground without any construction work.
As you can imagine, permits for an in-ground pool are much more numerous than those for an above-ground one, because a construction site must be opened to prepare the space. Let's see what permits are required in both cases.
The construction of an in-ground pool requires a series of approvals from the municipality where it is located. The details of the documents required vary from region to region, so you will need to inform yourself based on the local regulations of the city where you intend to build your private body of water.
One factor to pay particular attention to is the presence of any landscape or environmental constraints that could prevent you from proceeding with the pool of your dreams. In any case, in addition to the permits, you will also need to submit to the municipality the SCIA – the certified notification of commencement of works – drawn up by a specialized technician with all the characteristics of the construction site.
Permits to be respected and authorization process to be followed
Then there is also the building permit to consider, a fundamental document for starting a construction site on your property. The ruling 1913 of 2019 of the Court of Cassation has in fact clarified that an in-ground pool modifies the volume of a property and is therefore considered a new construction.
Authorization for a pool in your private garden is therefore necessary to begin excavation work. You will also need the building permit in the case of landscape or urban planning constraints. To proceed, submit a formal application to the One-Stop Shop for Building in your municipality; only once you have obtained it will you be able to begin excavating.
There is, however, an exception. If the pool has a total volume less than 20% of that of the main building, it is possible to proceed even without this document for in-ground pools. If you have a truly gigantic house or if you are happy with a small swimming pool, you could therefore go ahead without a building permit and with a simple SCIA.
Let's summarize the bureaucratic process to obtain authorization for an in-ground swimming pool:
- check with your municipality for the existence of any restrictions in the area where you want to install your pool;
- if the pool has a volume 20% greater than the main building and if there are restrictions, apply for a building permit;
- ask an authorized technician to complete and deliver the SCIA to the municipal office;
- once the construction site is closed, you need a Declaration of Conformity, always completed by a professional, to present along with the completion of works notice.
If you are building your new home, or if you are already doing renovation work, you can attach the permits for the in-ground pool to the already prepared documents. If, however, it is a new construction site, a separate procedure will be required.
We recommend that you pay maximum attention to the documents. Any distraction or oversight could lead to unpleasant consequences such as the demolition of the pool!
Don't want to give up your outdoor relaxation corner but are terrified of bureaucracy? Maybe an above-ground pool is what you need.
Above-ground pools: are permits required?
An above-ground pool is an excellent solution for bringing a bit of well-being into your outdoor spaces, even if you don't live in one of the most luxurious homes in the world
This type of pool is, in most cases, simple to install and does not require permits. The only exceptions we point out are the possible construction of a retaining wall or concrete platforms on which to place the pool. In these cases, you need to request permission for an above-ground pool, but this is a problem you can get around by opting for other, less permanent materials, such as wood or stoneware.
A similar argument can be made for authorization for semi-inground pools, i.e., those models that have only a portion of the structure dug into the ground. If you exploit the natural terracing of the land, you can proceed without a permit because any excavations are not permanent. However, if you alter the land more significantly, you will need a building permit.
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