Pool enclosure without a building permit: the solutions

For the installation of a pool enclosure, various criteria must be taken into account to understand which town planning authorisation applies to your construction project:

• The maximum height of the pool enclosure;
• The floor area and building coverage of the enclosure;
• The location of the plot on which the pool enclosure will be built;
• The type of works: installation over an existing pool, or the simultaneous construction of an enclosure and a swimming pool.

It is obligatory to obtain a building permit for the installation of a full-height enclosure over 1 m 80 over a covered pool with a floor area between 10 and 100 m2, when the construction works are carried out at the same time as those for the swimming pool.

To avoid the need to apply for a building permit for the construction of a pool enclosure that takes place at the same time as the installation of an in-ground pool, you have two solutions:

• Choose a low-profile or mid-height pool enclosure under 1 m 80 in height;
• Build an enclosure with building coverage less than or equal to 10 m2.

Specific town planning rules may apply to your plot according to the municipality or zone where you are located. The town planning regulations (PLU - Plan Local d’Urbanisme) and the land-use plan (POS - plan d’occupation des sols) that apply at the municipal or inter-municipal level may involve additional constraints for the installation of a pool enclosure. This is the case, for example, in protected areas, near a historical monument or a listed site.

To find out more, we recommend you consult the PLU at the town planning department of your town hall. Good to know: even though your pool may not require a building permit, another town planning authorisation may be required, such as a prior declaration of works, which you can obtain from your town hall.