Swimming Pools | City of Hamilton

Swimming Pool

Do I Need a Building Permit?

You do not need a Building Permit to install a swimming pool.

You do need a Building Permit to:

construct the pool enclosure (fence)
construct a deck in addition to or adjacent to the pool

Pool enclosures are required for all swimming pools.

You do not need a Building Permit to install a swimming pool, however you do need a Building Permit to construct the pool enclosure (fence). Pool enclosures are required for all swimming pools. The pool enclosure must be in accordance with The City of Hamilton's Swimming Pool Enclosure By-law No. 16-184(PDF, 68.94 KB) with Amendment By-law No. 22-059(PDF, 124.28 KB).

You must not excavate or build a pool enclosure until you get a Building Permit. Do not put water in the pool until you have the swimming pool enclosure in place and you receive final approval from the City.

The Swimming Pool Enclosure Checklist(PDF, 864.53 KB) is required to be completed and submitted with the Enclosure Permit Application. If a Site Alteration Permit is required, it must be approved though the Growth Management Division prior to the issuance of the Enclosure Permit.

If you are planning on repairing or replacing an existing pool enclosure (fence) contact the Building Division to determine if a permit is required at 905-546-2720 or [email protected]

Note: If a deck is constructed in addition to or adjacent to the pool, a separate permit will be required for the deck.

Apply Online for a Pool Enclosure Permit (Fence)

Applications can now be submitted online by property owner, or agent acting on behalf of the owner through the City of Hamilton’s Customer Portal.

New and returning applicants can submit applications, track progress, and manage information securely online.

If this is your first time applying online with the City of Hamilton, you’ll need to complete two simple steps.

Step 1: Create a City of Hamilton Account (my.hamilton.ca)

You will need to create an account at my.hamilton.ca/

This is the City’s centralized access point that allows you to easily view, access, and submit a wide range of City services using one account.
Once your City account is created, you can sign in anytime to manage your services online.

Step 2: Access the Customer Portal

After signing into my.hamilton.ca/, select the Building Permits category to create your Customer Portal account.
Once you are setup on the Customer Portal, navigate to Getting Started and select Permitting & Inspections to apply for a Building Permit and follow the steps.

Need Help?

For assistance with my.hamilton.ca and login troubleshooting visit My.hamilton Portal FAQs
For assistance with applying, visit Planning, Permitting, Licensing & By-Law System

If you already have:

a my.hamilton.ca account, and
a Customer Portal account,

Visit my.hamilton.ca/ and select the Building Permits category. Navigate to Getting Started and select Permitting & Inspections. Select an action and follow the steps.

Need Help?

For assistance with my.hamilton.ca and login troubleshooting visit My.hamilton Portal FAQs
For assistance with applying, visit Planning, Permitting, Licensing & By-Law System

Submission Standards

To help us review your application as quickly as possible, please ensure your documents meet these requirements:

Submit all documents in PDF format. Plans and drawings must be submitted as vector-based PDFs (not scanned copies).
PDF files must not be password protected or secured.
Complete and sign all required forms electronically. Fillable forms are available online.
Combine related plans or drawings into a single PDF (for example, all architectural drawings in one file and all structural drawings in another).
If your drawings contain multiple layers, flatten them into a single layer before submitting.
All drawings must be drawn to scale.
Remove all comments, markups, and annotations from your PDFs before submitting. Any text added as a PDF comment must be flattened into the document or removed.
Submit drawings and specifications in black and white. Colour renderings or photographs may be included as supporting information but cannot replace the required plans.
Convert electronic files (such as DWG or DOCX) directly to PDF. Please avoid printing documents and scanning them back into PDF format, as this can reduce quality.
Name your PDF files clearly so they are easy to identify. Follow the “File Naming for Documents” guidelines below.
Ensure all plans and drawings include the information required by the City of Hamilton Building By-law 15-058, as amended.
If you are resubmitting documents in response to review comments, include a version number in the file name (for example, Site Plan v2 orFloor Plan v3).

File Naming for Documents

Please give each electronic document a clear file name that describes the form or its contents. This helps us identify your documents and review your application more efficiently.

If you are applying for a Residential (one-2 dwelling units) or Other permit applications, you can combine all of your drawings into a single PDF for submission.
For Multi-Residential (3+ units) and Non-Residential permit applications, group your drawings by discipline and submit each discipline as a separate PDF (for example, Architectural Drawings [A101, A102, etc.], Structure Drawings [S01, S02, etc.], Mechanical Drawings [M101, M102, etc.).

Restrictions on

Swimming Pools & Equipment

Location of Pool & Equipment

Types of Enclosures

Location of Utilities

There are different restrictions on where you can install a swimming pool and the swimming pool pump and filter depending on which former municipality you live in. There are different setbacks for above ground versus in ground pools.

Setback requirements and allowable lot coverage (amount of space the pool can use) of pool by municipality

This information is for single family dwellings only in residential zones. For all other pool enclosures call Building at 905-546-2720 or [email protected]

To find the zone and by-law for a specific property, visit Interactive Zoning Mapping.

By-law 05-200

Item	Rear Yard	Side Yard	Front Yard	Coverage
Above Ground	1.25 m (4' 2")	1.25 m (4' 2")	As per By-law	n/a
In-ground	1.25 m (4' 2")	1.25 m (4' 2")	As per By-law	n/a
Pool Equipment	0.6 m (2' 0")	0.6 m (2' 0")	As per By-law	n/a

Ancaster Zoning By-law 87-57

Item	Rear Yard	Side Yard	Front Yard	Coverage
Above Ground	1.5 m (4' 11")***	1.5 m (4' 11")	as per zone	as per zone
In-ground	1.5 m (4' 11")	1.5 m (4' 11")	not permitted	n/a
Pool Equipment (Installed in rear or non-required side yard)	0.6 m (2' 0")	0.6 m (2' 0")	not permitted	n/a

***Must add the height of the pool's supporting structure (measured from grade) to the above-mentioned distances to lot lines in order to get the total setback required.

Dundas Zoning By-law 3581-86 (installed in rear of yard)

Item	Rear Yard	Side Yard	Front Yard	Coverage
Above Ground	1.2 m (3' 11")	1.2 m (3' 11")	as per zone	50%**
In-ground	1.0 m (3' 4")	1.0 m (3' 4")	as per zone	n/a
Pool Equipment	0.6 m (2' 0")	0.6 m (2' 0")	5.0 m (16' 5")	n/a

**Not more than 50% of the area of the rear yard can be used for an above ground pool or combined accessory building coverage.

Flamborough Zoning By-law 90-145-Z (installed in a typical Residential, R1 to R6)

Item	Rear Yard	Side Yard	Front Yard	Coverage
Above Ground	1.2 m (3' 11")*	1.8 m (5' 11")*	as per zone	as per zone
In-ground	1.2 m (3' 11")*	1.8 m (5' 11")*	as per zone	as per zone
Pool Equipment (Installed in rear or non-required side yard)	0.6 m (2' 0")	0.6 m (2' 0")	as per zone	as per zone

*A pool installed in a front or side yard must follow the same setbacks as required for the dwelling.

Glanbrook Zoning By-law 464

Item	Rear Yard	Side Yard	Front Yard	Coverage
Above Ground	1.5 m (4' 11")	1.5 m (4' 11")	not permitted	n/a
In-ground	1.5 m (4' 11")	1.5 m (4' 11")	not permitted	n/a
Pool Equipment	0.6 m (2' 0")	0.6 m (2' 0")	not permitted	n/a

Hamilton Zoning By-law 6593 (installed in rear of yard)

Item	Rear Yard	Side Yard	Front Yard	Coverage
Above Ground	1.2 m (3' 11")	1.2 m (3' 11")	as per zone	50%**
In-ground	1.0 m (3' 4")	1.0 m (3' 4")	as per zone	n/a
Pool Equipment	0.6 m (2' 0")	0.6 m (2' 0")	5.0 m (16' 5")	n/a

**Not more than 50% of the area of the rear yard can be used for an above ground pool or combined accessory building coverage.

Stoney Creek By-law 3692-92

Item	Rear Yard	Side Yard	Front Yard	Coverage
Above Ground	1.25 m (4' 2")	1.25 m (4' 2")	not permitted	n/a
In-ground	1.25 m (4' 2")	1.25 m (4' 2")	not permitted	n/a
Pool Equipment	0.6 m (2' 0")	0.6 m (2' 0")	5.0 m (12' 5")	n/a

Except 1 m where the side yard along its entire length ajoins the rear lot line of an abutting property.

1. If a deck is attached or is part of an above ground pool then the above noted setbacks are to be taken to the outer edge of the deck.

2. If your property is a corner lot, contact Building at 905-546-2720 for clarification of any special setback requirements. The information provided above is for a typical interior lot where side lot lines of adjacent properties abut each other.

3. On-ground pools may be classified as above ground or in-ground depending on the height above grade and the municipality's zoning by-law.

There are a variety of fencing materials permitted, including chain link, vinyl, aluminum, wood and wrought iron. All of these materials are subject to the conditions outlined in the Pool Enclosure By-law 16-184. Read it carefully to ensure that your fence and gates comply with the By-law requirements.

Enclosure Requirements

The fence must have a minimum vertical height of 1.5 metres (4’-11”), measured from the effective ground level on the outside of the enclosure,
It must also be located at least 1.0 metre (3’-3”) from nearest inside pool wall,
Has no opening when all gates are closed allowing the passage of a spherical object larger than 100mm in diameter,
Has nothing against or near the enclosure that facilitates climbing the enclosure or diminishes the structural integrity of the enclosure,
Every fence and gate used as part of an enclosure which forms the part of the enclosure that separates the pool from any dwelling on the same property shall be constructed of open mesh chain link fence or equivalent open face construction that does not restrict visibility of the pool from any door or window that is located on the access level of the dwelling, and which has a line of sight to the pool, and the materials used shall comply with the provisions of By-law 16-184.
Any gate that forms part of the enclosure must be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device at the top of the gate on the inside of the enclosure.

A swimming pool enclosure cannot enclose a utility reading device that requires periodic inspection or attendance by utility or service personnel, such as:

utility meters
hydro meters
furnace oil filler pipes

If your pool is near hydro lines, contact your service provider to ensure that the pool will conform to the required setbacks.

Date modified

August 25, 2026