Ottawa pool enclosure permit: when you need one and what to submit
The short answer
Yes. Every pool enclosure needs a permit, even if the yard is already fenced, and that includes hot tubs, ponds and blow-up pools that hold 600 mm or more. City fee: $257.
Last verified 2026-10-07 · City of Ottawa: Pool enclosures (pool, hot tub, pond), City of Ottawa Pool Enclosure By-law 2013-39 (PDF), City of Ottawa: Building Code fee schedule (January 1, 2026)- City fee
- $257
- Where to apply
- My ServiceOttawa building portal
- Review time
- About 5 business days for a first review of a deck, finished basement or pool enclosure (15 for adding an apartment).
At least 1.5 m (5 ft) high. Gates close and latch on their own, with the latch at least 1.35 m up, and they lock.
What an application usually includes
Ottawa’s checklist has the exact list; apply through My ServiceOttawa building portal.
- A site plan showing the pool, the enclosure and the gates
- A cross-section of the fence with its height and openings
- Gate details: self-closing, self-latching, latch height
- The application, and an inspection before you fill the pool
Local quirks
- Already have a fenced yard? A pool or hot tub still needs its own enclosure permit.
- The finished side of a fence faces the street and the neighbours, and chain-link on homes has to be vinyl- or powder-coated.
- Heritage-designated properties lose the usual permit exemptions, so check before even small jobs.
Design your Ottawa pool enclosure to the Building Code.
The design, drawings and code checks work in Ottawa today. Ottawa’s own forms aren’t built in yet, so you’ll fill those in on the City’s portal.