This post is for English speakers who wish to build a swimming pool in France. However, we have found that our plans meet the requirements of most countries.
Prior to the start of work, a pool building permit is compulsory. Depending on the size of the pool and the construction area, the planning rules and régulations could be different.
Understand the process
When you have a pool project, you can’t wait for the first dig. However, as swimming pool professionals, we advise you not to rush and to follow the following two pieces of advice.
Study the feasibility of your project
You can do this by visiting the planning department of the town hall of the construction area; the officers are there to share the local specific development rights, such as:
- your project is located in a protected area, a safeguarded area or a classified site,
- the commune you depend on has specific town planning rules: local town planning or municipal map,
- the plot is located in a condominium
In all these situations, specific rules apply.
Knowing the criteria taken into account
A few square meters more or less you can go from little or no formalities to endless paperwork. Do you know that you can keep the control of your building site but assigning the design of the project to a pool professional.
The main criteria that determine the formalities are:
- The area of the pool
- the presence or not of a pool enclosure
- whether or not the installation is permanent , for above ground pools,
- whether or not the pool is completely into the ground.
We detail below the different cases.
Explanations on various building permit
Subject to specific restrictions to be taken into account, your project will necessarily fit into one of the 3 following configurations:
- No formality
- A “Déclaration préalable” form is required
- A “Permis de construire”- building permit is mandatory
No formality if :
- An above ground swimming pool (inflated or kit) is installed less than 3 months per year (or less than 15 days per year in certain protected areas).
- Or your swimming pool has a water surface area of less than 10m2 and 1 m. high.
- Or an indoor swimming pool is built in an existing building or house and the facades and the roof are not modified.
A “Déclaration préalable” is necessary for :
- An above-ground swimming pool (inflated or kit), from 10m2 to 100m2, installed more than 3 months per year (or more than 15 days per year in certain protected areas).
- An inground or semi-buried swimming pool between 10m2 and 100m2 of water, with or without enclosure.
- A swimming pool of less than 20m2 whatever the height of the enclosure if the plot is already built on.
Please note that, depending on the building department, various documents may be requested. Beyond the usual DP1 (site plan), DP2 (swimming pool ground plan) and DP3 (swimming pool section plan), some towns will ask for a DP5, DP6, DP7 or DP8, or even other information, allowing them to visualise the project precisely from a photo montage.
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- Position on the plot
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- Pool in its surroundings
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- General plan & Section
A “Permis de construire” – Building Permit
It concerns:
- Above ground pools (inflated or kit), of more than 100m2, installed more than 3 months per year (or more than 15 days per year in some protected areas).
- Inground or semi-underground swimming pools (less than 60cm above ground) with more than 100m2 of water area, with or without enclosure.
- The construction of a pool enclosure more than 1.80m high
- The construction of a pump room of more than 20m2
Please note that, the Pool Building Permit must sometimes be submitted by an Architect.
NOTE: Failure to declare the work done on a swimming pool can lead to its demolition, heavy fines, and even a 6 month prison sentence, if a repeat offence is committed. Don’t forget that the tax authorities receive valuable help from Google maps to find out about new constructions.
Be careful: Some municipalities prohibit certain colours and types of lining. We detail here the different swimming pool linings.
The swimming pool extensions
Pool enclosures
- The installation of a pool enclosure less than 1.80 m high on an existing pool does not require any formalities. On the other hand, if one wishes to build a swimming pool and its cover at the same time, the application of a “Déclaration préalable” for minor works is compulsory.
- The construction of a pool enclosure higher than 1.80 m requires a building permit unless the swimming pool is less than 20 m2 and is located on a plot of land already built.
The pump room
- Its area is less than 2 m2 and its height less than 1.50 m, no authorisation is required.
- The construction of a pump room from 2 to 20 m2 requires a “Déclaration préalable” for minor works.
- For a pump room of more than 20 m2, a “Permis de construire’ – Building permit must be applied for.
