The Model Code (IRC) and How Cities Differ
Several states on this page build on a model code, the International Residential Code (IRC): Georgia adopts its 2024 edition with amendments, Pennsylvania its 2021 edition, Ohio’s residential code is based on its 2018 edition and Michigan’s on its 2015 edition, and Texas adopts it for its cities. Here is what the 2021 IRC says, in Section R105.2 for permits and, for pool barriers, the pool code (ISPSC) that the IRC adopts in Section R327 (2021 edition):
- Permits: the 2021 IRC lists “Fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high,” and retaining walls not over 4 feet unless they support a surcharge, among the work that needs no permit (IRC R105.2), and the exemption does not authorize work that breaks any other law or ordinance. States and cities set their own: Pennsylvania and Ohio exempt fences 6 ft or less, Michigan keeps 7 ft, San Diego exempts 7 ft or less (other than pool barriers), North Carolina’s residential code does not cover fences at all, Houston requires a permit over 8 ft or for any masonry or concrete fence, Los Angeles for masonry or concrete fences over 3½ ft and other fences over 10 ft, and Dallas over 4 ft in a front yard or 6 ft elsewhere (sources in each state below).
- Heights: set by local zoning; the IRC’s 7-foot figure above is a permit exemption, not a height limit. For example, New York City allows 6 ft in residential districts and 4 ft in front yards; Albany allows 4 ft (at most 60% opaque) in front and 6 ft at the sides and rear; Orlando 4 ft in front, 6 ft at the sides and rear; Detroit 4 ft in front (3 ft if opaque), 6 ft at the sides and rear; Atlanta 4 ft in front, 6 ft at the sides and rear in its R-1 to R-5 districts; Los Angeles 3.5 ft in front yards in R and RW zones.
- Pool fences (ISPSC, adopted by IRC R327): at least 48 inches tall, measured on the side away from the pool; no opening a 4-inch sphere can pass through; where the tops of the horizontal rails are 45 inches or more apart, pickets may be up to 4 inches apart, and where they are closer, the rails go on the pool side and pickets are at most 1¾ inches apart; gates open outward away from the pool, self-close and self-latch; and a latch release reached from outside the barrier sits at least 54 inches above the ground at a home pool (ISPSC 2021 §§305.2.1, 305.2.2, 305.2.5, 305.2.6, 305.3, 305.3.3). Several states add their own pool law: see California and Florida below.
- Pool barriers can need a permit even where a yard fence does not: Los Angeles, Dallas, Orlando and San Diego all require one for a pool barrier, and Durham for one at a single-family home.
- Historic districts can change the rule: Philadelphia requires a building permit for any fence on its Historic Registry, Cincinnati a Certificate of Appropriateness in a historic district, and Detroit a permit for all exterior work in a local historic district.
State-by-State Details
CACalifornia
Los Angeles
Permit for masonry or concrete fences over 3½ ft, other fences over 10 ft, and every pool barrier
Los Angeles heights
3.5 ft in front yards (R and RW zones); 8 ft side and rear on lots 40 ft or wider outside hillside areas, otherwise 6 ft
San Diego
No building permit for fences 7 ft or less, other than pool barriers
State pool law
At least 2 of 7 drowning-prevention features; an enclosure at least 60 in tall
In California, the fence permits and heights below are each city’s own rules, and state law adds rules for pools. In Los Angeles, a building permit is required for masonry or concrete fences over 3½ ft, other fences over 10 ft, and swimming pool barriers (LADBS Information Bulletin P/BC 2026-080, effective January 1, 2026), and zoning limits front-yard fences to 3.5 ft in R and RW zones and side and rear fences to 8 ft on lots 40 ft or wider outside hillside areas, 6 ft otherwise (LADBS IB P/ZC 2023-002). San Diego exempts fences of 7 ft or less, other than swimming pool barriers, from a building permit (San Diego Municipal Code §129.0203(a)(2)). Pools: when a building permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool or spa at a single-family home, state law requires at least two of seven drowning-prevention features, inspected before final approval (Health and Safety Code §115922), and a qualifying enclosure is at least 60 inches tall, with gates that open away from the pool and self-close and self-latch (§115923).
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: LADBS IB P/BC 2026-080 (permits) · LADBS IB P/ZC 2023-002 (heights) · San Diego Municipal Code ch. 12, art. 9, div. 2 · Cal. Health & Safety Code §§115920-115929
TXTexas
Houston
Permit over 8 ft, or for any fence of masonry or concrete
Austin
Permit over 7 ft, in a floodplain, or over 6 ft along the public right-of-way
Dallas
Permit over 4 ft in a front yard, over 6 ft elsewhere, and for every pool barrier
San Antonio
Permit to build any fence or repair more than 25%: $26.50 online
Texas adopts the International Residential Code (as it existed May 1, 2012) as the residential building code for its cities and lets each city amend it by ordinance (Local Government Code §214.212), so the fence rules differ by city. Houston requires a permit for fences over 8 ft and for any fence built wholly or partly of masonry or concrete (Houston Permitting Center, Residential Fencing). Austin requires one for fences over 7 ft, any fence in a floodplain, and residential fences over 6 ft along the public right-of-way (City of Austin, Fencing Regulations). Dallas requires one for fences over 4 ft in a front yard or over 6 ft elsewhere, and for every pool barrier fence (Dallas Planning & Development, fence permit checklist). San Antonio requires a permit to build a fence or repair more than 25% of one, $26.50 online or $36.50 in person (DSD Fences Fact Sheet, June 26, 2024), and limits single-family front-yard fences to 3 ft solid or 5 ft combined or mostly open, and side and rear fences to 6 ft (Residential Fence Permit Application).
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: Tex. Local Gov't Code ch. 214 · Houston: Residential Fencing · Austin: Fencing Regulations · Dallas: fence permit checklist · San Antonio: Fences Fact Sheet · San Antonio: Residential Fence Permit Application
FLFlorida
Statewide (since July 1, 2026)
Owners can ask for a permit exemption for work under $7,500 (not electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas)
Orlando
No permit up to 6 ft in common materials; permit over 6 ft, for masonry or concrete, and for pool barriers
Miami-Dade (unincorporated)
Chain link: zoning permit only; wind-resistant fences: building permit
State pool law
At least 1 of 5 safety features; a barrier is at least 4 ft high on the outside
Orlando requires no fence permit for a fence of 6 ft or less on a one- or two-family lot in wood, vinyl, chain link, aluminum or wrought iron unless another listed condition applies (for example a historic district, a floodplain, a public easement or an alley), but does require one for fences over 6 ft, concrete or masonry fences, and pool or spa barriers; its residential limits are 4 ft in front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards, on or inside the property line (City of Orlando, Fence Guide). Unincorporated Miami-Dade County exempts chain link and other fences that are not wind-resistant from a building permit but requires a zoning permit, and treats wind-resistant fences as structural work that needs a building permit (Miami-Dade County, Permit Exemptions). Statewide: since July 1, 2026, local governments must exempt single-family owners from a building permit for work valued under $7,500 on written request, except electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work and property in a flood hazard area (Fla. Stat. §553.79(1)(g)). Pools: to pass final inspection, a residential pool needs at least one of five safety features: a barrier, an approved safety cover, exit alarms, self-closing and self-latching doors, or a pool alarm (Fla. Stat. §515.27(1)); a barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside, with gates that open outward and self-close and self-latch (§515.29).
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: Fla. Stat. §553.79 · Fla. Stat. §515.27 · Fla. Stat. §515.29 · Orlando: Fence Guide · Miami-Dade County: permit exemptions
NYNew York
Statewide
Local code programs must require permits for work the Uniform Code covers (19 NYCRR Part 1203)
New York City
No permit up to 6 ft at one- and two-family homes; 6 ft in residential districts, 4 ft in front yards
Albany
4 ft in front (at most 60% opaque), 6 ft in side and rear yards
RPAPL §843
Not a height limit: lets a neighbor sue over a spite fence over 10 ft
Every city, village, town and county that enforces New York’s Uniform Code must run a code enforcement program that requires building permits for work that must conform to the Code (19 NYCRR §§1203.2(a), 1203.3(a)(1)), and fence heights are set by local zoning. Albany allows 4 ft, at most 60% opaque, in front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards, with no minimum distance from the lot line (Albany Code §375-406(7)). In New York City, the Department of Buildings requires no permit for fences 6 ft or less at one- and two-family homes (1 RCNY §101-14), the Zoning Resolution limits front-yard fences in residence districts to 4 ft (ZR §23-312, as amended December 5, 2024), and the Department lists 6 ft in residential districts (Building Code §3112.1) and 6 ft on the side of a corner lot, against a general Building Code maximum of 10 ft; on a landmarked property the Landmarks Preservation Commission must approve the work (NYC DOB, Fences & Backyard Sheds). The state law on spite fences (RPAPL §843) sets no height limit: it lets a neighbor deprived of light or air sue to have a fence over 10 ft, built to exclude them, declared a private nuisance.
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: 19 NYCRR Part 1203 (copy published by the City of White Plains) · NYC DOB: Fences & Backyard Sheds · NYC Zoning Resolution §23-312 · Albany City Code §375-406 · RPAPL §843
PAPennsylvania
Statewide (UCC)
No permit for fences 6 ft or less (34 Pa. Code §403.62(c)(1))
Philadelphia
No permit up to 4 ft in any yard or 6 ft in side and rear yards
Philadelphia fees
$25 filing + $50 zoning (one- or two-family lot); building permit $69 + $7.50 when needed
Pittsburgh
Zoning approval, but no building permit, for fences 6 ft or less
Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code (which adopts the 2021 IRC from January 1, 2026 but keeps its own permit rules where they differ) does not require a permit for a fence no more than 6 feet high, as long as the work does not violate a law or ordinance (34 Pa. Code §§403.21, 403.62(c)(1)); that is a permit exemption, not a height limit, and local zoning can still require an approval. In Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections), a wood, metal or vinyl fence needs no permit up to 4 ft in any yard or up to 6 ft in a side or rear yard; a front-yard fence over 4 ft (or one up to 4 ft that is more than 50% opaque) needs a zoning permit, any fence over 6 ft needs zoning and building permits, masonry fences follow a stricter table, and a building permit is always required on the Philadelphia Historic Registry or in the 100-year floodplain. For a one- or two-family lot Philadelphia charges a $25 filing fee, a $50 zoning permit fee and, when a building permit is needed, a $69 flat building permit fee plus $7.50 in city and state surcharges. Pittsburgh requires zoning approval (a Record of Zoning Approval) but no building permit for fences 6 feet or less in height (Zoning FAQ, updated March 17, 2026).
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: 34 Pa. Code §403.62 · 34 Pa. Code §403.21 · Philadelphia: Get a fence permit · Pittsburgh: Zoning FAQ
ILIllinois
Statewide
The State issues no building permits for private work; cities, villages and counties do
Chicago
No permit up to 5 ft; above 5 ft, an Express Permit: $75 (non-masonry up to 6 ft), $300 over 6 ft
Chicago heights
Residential fences generally 6 ft; 54 in in the front setback if over 20% opaque
Unincorporated Cook County
Permit at any height; 6 ft on common lot lines, 3 ft in front and corner side yards
The State of Illinois does not issue fence permits: its Capital Development Board says the State does not issue building permits for privately funded construction, so any permit comes from the city, village or county (Illinois Codes FAQ). Chicago requires no permit for a fence not more than 5 feet above the ground on both sides that conforms to the Chicago Zoning Ordinance (Municipal Code §14A-4-402.1) and requires one for anything taller (§14A-4-404.7), available through the web-based Express Permit Program at a $75 permit fee for a non-masonry fence up to 6 ft and $300 over 6 ft (Table 14A-12-1204.2; $80 and $315 from January 1, 2027). Chicago generally limits residential fences to 6 ft, and to 54 inches in the required front setback when a fence is more than 20% opaque (Department of Buildings permit terms; Zoning Ordinance §17-17-0309). Unincorporated Cook County requires a permit for a fence of any material at any height and allows 6 ft along a common lot line in residential districts, but 3 ft in front yards and corner side-yard setbacks (Cook County Building and Zoning, Fence Permit Requirements).
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: Illinois Capital Development Board: codes FAQ · Chicago: Express Permit Program · Chicago: Express Permit, fences · Chicago: fence permit terms · Chicago Municipal Code §14A-4-402.1 (American Legal) · Chicago Municipal Code §14A-4-404.7 (American Legal) · Chicago Municipal Code Table 14A-12-1204.2 (American Legal) · Chicago 2027 permit fee tables · Chicago Zoning Ordinance §17-17-0309 (American Legal) · Cook County: Fence Permit Requirements
OHOhio
Statewide (Residential Code of Ohio)
No approval needed for fences 6 ft or less
Columbus
No building permit up to 6 ft; zoning clearance above 6 ft
Cincinnati
Zoning Certificate ($158.55) up to 6 ft; building permit above 6 ft; 4 ft in front
Dayton
Zoning permit for every new fence ($90.91); 42 in in front, 6 ft side and rear
The Residential Code of Ohio (2019 edition, based on the 2018 IRC; Ohio Adm. Code 4101:8-1-01 §102.10) requires no approval for fences not over 6 feet high; that is an approval exemption, not a height limit, and cities regulate fences through zoning. Columbus requires no building permit for a fence 6 ft or less (Building and Zoning Services, Fences handout) and requires zoning clearance above 6 ft on lots with fewer than four dwelling units (City Code 3321.19(A)), and on a corner lot no fence over 2½ ft may stand in the clear vision triangle that runs 30 ft along each street from the intersection (3321.05(B)(2)). Cincinnati requires a Zoning Certificate of Compliance ($158.55) for a residential fence 6 ft or less (a Certificate of Appropriateness in a historic district) and a building permit above 6 ft, and limits front and corner side yards to 4 ft (Buildings & Inspections, Fence Permit/Approval Information). Dayton requires a zoning permit for all new fence construction (Zoning Certificate fee $90.91) and allows fences up to 42 inches in front yards and 6-ft privacy fences in side and rear yards (Fence Permit Application, January 2025).
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: Ohio Adm. Code 4101:8-1-01 (Residential Code of Ohio) · Columbus: Fences handout · Columbus City Code 3321.05 and 3321.19 (Municode) · Cincinnati: Fence Permit/Approval Information · Dayton: Fence Permit Application
GAGeorgia
Statewide
Georgia’s amendments delete the IRC’s Chapter 1 (Scope and Administration); local governments write their own procedures
Atlanta heights (R-1 to R-5)
4 ft in front, 6 ft at the sides and rear; no fence over 2½ ft within 20 ft of a street intersection
Atlanta permits
Fences are among its permitted projects; Express Permits are taken in person, over the counter
Atlanta historic districts
Site work is reviewed before a permit; a new structure needs a Certificate of Appropriateness
Georgia leaves permit procedures to its local governments: its residential code is the 2024 IRC with Georgia amendments, which delete the IRC’s Chapter 1, “Scope and Administration”, and keep it only as a guide for local governments writing their own administrative procedures (Department of Community Affairs, IRC amendment packet revised January 1, 2026; Enforcement of State Minimum Codes). In Atlanta’s R-1 to R-5 districts, fences may stand in required yards up to 4 ft in front and half-depth front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards (in the R-G district, 4 ft in front and 8 ft at the sides and rear); in any dwelling district no fence over 2½ ft may stand within 20 ft of a street intersection; and the Board of Zoning Adjustment may grant a special exception for a taller fence (Atlanta Code Sec. 16-28.008(5)). Atlanta’s Office of Buildings lists fences among its common permitted projects, and its Express Permits, which cover a new or replacement fence that affects no trees, are taken in person, over the counter (Permitting Services Guide, August 2023; Office of Buildings page). In a designated Historic District such as Inman Park or Grant Park, site work is reviewed by the Office of Design before a permit is issued (Permitting Services Guide), and erecting a new structure generally needs a Certificate of Appropriateness (Sec. 16-20.007(a)(4)).
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: Georgia DCA: 2026 IRC amendment packet · Georgia DCA: enforcement of state minimum codes · Atlanta Code Sec. 16-28.008 (Municode) · Atlanta: Office of Buildings · Atlanta: Permitting Services Guide · Atlanta Code Sec. 16-20.007 (Municode) · Atlanta: historic districts
NCNorth Carolina
Statewide
The NC Residential Code does not list fences among the accessory structures it covers
Raleigh
Zoning permit for any fence installed; up to 8 ft in side and rear setbacks (6½ ft next to a street)
Raleigh front yards
Up to 6½ ft in a front or side-street setback if the part above 4 ft is at most 50% opaque
Durham
No permit, unless in a flood plain or for a pool barrier; 8 ft side and rear, 4 ft front
North Carolina’s residential building code does not cover fences: the 2018 NC Residential Code, which the Office of State Fire Marshal lists as currently effective, says only the accessory structures it lists must meet it (decks, gazebos, retaining walls, detached masonry chimneys less than 10 ft from other buildings or lot lines, swimming pools and spas, detached carports, and docks, piers and other waterway structures), and fencing, which the code itself names as an accessory structure, is not on the list (R101.2.2, effective January 1, 2022). Local zoning decides the rest. Raleigh requires a zoning permit when a fence is installed on any property (City of Raleigh, updated July 14, 2026), and allows up to 8 ft in a side or rear setback (6½ ft next to a street) and, outside IH districts, up to 6½ ft in a front or side-street setback if the part above 4 ft is no more than 50% opaque (UDO Sec. 7.2.8). Durham requires no permit to build a fence or wall (retaining walls excepted) unless the property is in a designated flood plain or the fence is a pool barrier at a single-family home, and allows 8 ft in side and rear yards and 4 ft in front; on a corner lot, a fence between the house and the side street is limited to 4 ft without a use permit from the Board of Adjustment (Durham City-County Building & Safety, Fences and Walls; UDO 9.9).
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: NC Office of State Fire Marshal: 2018 NC Residential Code amendments · NC OSFM: current and past codes · Raleigh: fence permits · Raleigh UDO Sec. 7.2.8 · Durham: Fences and walls
MIMichigan
Statewide
No building permit for a fence not more than 7 ft (R 408.30505): a permit exemption, not a height limit
Detroit
No building permit up to 7 ft outside a Special Review District; 4 ft in front (3 ft if opaque), 6 ft side and rear
Grand Rapids
Zoning permit over 30 in ($25); 4 ft open or 3 ft solid in front, 6 ft side and rear
Charter Township of Kalamazoo
No permit to install a fence; 6 ft maximum; up to the property line
Michigan’s residential code requires no building permit for a fence not more than 7 ft high (Mich. Admin. Code R 408.30505, which amends IRC R105.2 in the Michigan Residential Code based on the 2015 IRC); that is a permit exemption, not a height limit, and it does not authorize work that breaks any other law or ordinance. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs says the 2015-based code remains in effect while a July 7, 2025 Court of Claims order holds back the rules that would update it. Detroit exempts a fence 7 ft or less from a building permit only if it is not in a Special Review District (in a local historic district, every exterior job needs a permit), and limits fences at one- and two-family homes to 4 ft in the front yard (3 ft if opaque) and 6 ft at the sides and rear (BSEED, Do I Need a Permit; City Code Sec. 50-14-381). Grand Rapids requires a zoning permit for any fence or wall over 30 inches, $25 as a Level I zoning permit (fee schedule effective July 1, 2026); for homes it allows open fences up to 4 ft and solid fences up to 3 ft in front and 6 ft at the sides and rear, and a fence may sit on the property line but must stay out of the public right-of-way and at least 1 ft back from it (Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5.2.11). The Charter Township of Kalamazoo requires no permit to install a fence, caps fences at 6 ft, and allows them up to the property line (township permits FAQ).
Sources, checked October 6, 2026: Mich. Admin. Code R 408.30505 · LARA: construction code rule sets · Detroit BSEED: Do I Need a Permit · Detroit City Code Sec. 50-14-381 (Municode) · Grand Rapids Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5.2.11 · Grand Rapids FY27 fee schedule · Charter Township of Kalamazoo: permits FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a permit for a fence?
It depends on where you build. The model code, the 2021 International Residential Code, exempts fences not over 7 feet from a building permit (Section R105.2), and states and cities set their own: Pennsylvania and Ohio exempt fences 6 feet or less; Michigan keeps 7 feet; North Carolina’s residential code does not cover fences at all; San Diego exempts 7 feet or less, other than pool barriers; Houston requires a permit over 8 feet or for any masonry or concrete fence; Dallas over 4 feet in a front yard or 6 feet elsewhere; San Antonio for any new fence or a repair of more than 25%; unincorporated Cook County, Illinois for every fence; Durham, North Carolina for none, unless the property is in a flood plain or the fence is a pool barrier. Zoning can require an approval even where no building permit is needed: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Dayton and Raleigh do, and Grand Rapids for any fence over 30 inches. Pool barriers can need a permit where a yard fence does not (Los Angeles, Dallas, Orlando, San Diego and Durham require one). Check with your city or county building department before you build.
What is the typical maximum fence height for residential property?
Heights are set by each city’s or county’s zoning; the model code’s 7-foot figure is only a permit exemption. Some examples from this page: New York City allows 6 feet in residential districts and limits front-yard fences in residence districts to 4 feet; Albany allows 4 feet in front (at most 60% opaque) and 6 feet at the sides and rear; Orlando 4 feet in front and 6 feet at the sides and rear; Los Angeles 3.5 feet in front yards in R and RW zones and 8 feet at the sides and rear on lots 40 feet or wider outside hillside areas; Chicago generally 6 feet; Dayton 42 inches in front and 6 feet at the sides and rear; Atlanta 4 feet in front and 6 feet at the sides and rear in its R-1 to R-5 districts; Detroit 4 feet in front (3 feet if opaque) and 6 feet at the sides and rear; Raleigh and Durham 8 feet at the sides and rear. On corner lots, Columbus allows no fence over 2½ feet within the clear vision triangle that runs 30 feet along each street, San Antonio none inside the triangle measured 25 feet each way from the curb, and Atlanta, in its dwelling districts, none over 2½ feet within 20 feet of a street intersection.
What are the pool fence requirements in the US?
Pool fence requirements come from the pool code (the ISPSC), which the International Residential Code adopts in Section R327 (2021 edition), and from state law in some states. Under the 2021 ISPSC, a barrier is at least 48 inches tall, measured on the side away from the pool (§305.2.1); no opening may let a 4-inch sphere through (§305.2.2); pickets may be up to 4 inches apart where the tops of the horizontal rails are 45 inches or more apart (§305.2.6), and at most 1¾ inches apart, with the rails on the pool side, where they are closer (§305.2.5); gates open outward away from the pool, self-close and self-latch (§305.3); and a latch release reached from outside the barrier is at least 54 inches above the ground at a home pool (§305.3.3). Florida accepts a barrier or one of four other safety features (Fla. Stat. 515.27), with a barrier at least 4 feet high (515.29); California requires at least two of seven drowning-prevention features when a pool is permitted, and an enclosure at least 60 inches tall (Health and Safety Code 115922, 115923).
What is a fence setback?
A setback is a required distance between a fence and a property line, sidewalk or street; local zoning sets it. Some examples from this page: Albany sets no minimum distance from the lot line; Orlando requires fences on or inside the property line; Grand Rapids lets a fence sit on the property line but keeps it at least 1 foot back from the public right-of-way; the Charter Township of Kalamazoo allows fences up to the property line; on corner lots Columbus keeps a clear vision triangle 30 feet along each street, and San Antonio a triangle 25 feet each way from the curb. Check your city’s zoning code for your lot.
How much does a fence permit cost?
Fees are set locally. Examples from this page: San Antonio charges $26.50 online or $36.50 in person (fact sheet, June 2024); Chicago $75 for a non-masonry fence up to 6 feet and $300 over 6 feet ($80 and $315 from January 1, 2027); Philadelphia a $25 filing fee and a $50 zoning permit fee for a one- or two-family lot, plus a $69 building permit fee and $7.50 in surcharges when a building permit is needed; Cincinnati $158.55 for a Zoning Certificate of Compliance; Dayton $90.91 for a Zoning Certificate; Grand Rapids $25 for a fence zoning permit (fee schedule effective July 1, 2026); Houston a $33.56 administration fee plus plan-review and permit fees from its fee schedule.
Where did this data come from?
Every statement on this page comes from a government source: a state statute or regulation, the model code (the 2021 International Residential Code and the pool code it adopts), a city code, or a city or county building department page. Each was checked on October 6, 2026, and each state’s sources are linked under it and listed at the end. Contractor guides are not used. Rules change, so confirm with your city or county before you build.