Swimming pool installation in Mississauga: plans and fee

Before installation

A building permit is not required for pools, but you do need to get approval for a pool enclosure.
Review the information and follow the process outlined in the Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Installation Guide.
Your pool must comply with the Swimming Pool Enclosure By-law and be set back from all property lines. Check the Zoning By-law to find the restrictions for your property before you begin installation.
Installing a swimming pool is permitted on most residential properties in the City. There are general provisions on where the pool can be located and how far it needs to be set back from all lot lines.
You can find the general provisions for swimming pools in subsection 4.1.4 of the Zoning By-law.
The zoning of your property may have additional regulations. Review the general provisions, and then check the zoning regulations for your property using the find property information tool.
Swimming Pool Information Sheet
External heating, air conditioning and pool heating or filtering equipment cannot be located in your front yard. All equipment must be at least 0.61 metres (≈ 2 ft) from all lot lines.
Residential swimming pools are to be used by property residents and their guests only and cannot be used for any commercial or business-related activities.

Only if your lot is next to land zoned as greenland

Minimum setbacks to greenland zones

If your lot is next to land zoned as greenland, any new pools may have to be built farther away from your property lines.
Check the setback to greenland zones in subsection 4.1.8 of the Zoning By-law.
You can determine if your lot is next to a greenland zone by using the zoning information map.

Only if your property is located on conservation lands

Conservation lands

If your property is located on conservation lands, you need written permission from the Credit Valley Conservation, Conservation Halton or the Toronto and Region Conversation Authority to install your pool, hot tub or swim spa.

Pay additional fees and deposits

Once your site plan and survey are accepted by all applicable City departments, you must provide deposits for municipal services protection and lot grading, including the administration and inspection fees.

In- and on-ground pools: $1,500.00
Above-ground pools: $750.00
On-ground, hot tubs or spas: $297.19 ($263 + $34.19 HST)
Above-ground pools: $593.25 ($525.00 + $68.25 HST)
Administrative fee: $33.90 ($33.00 + $3.90 HST)
You’ll receive electronic payment details with the required fee and deposit amounts.
Lot grading and municipal protection service deposits are collected through the Lot Grading and Municipal Services Protection Deposit By-law.

Schedule a pre-construction meeting

Once your site plan is approved, we will contact you to schedule a pre-construction meeting at your property about the proposed location of your pool.
Before the inspectors arrive, make sure the proposed location of your pool is marked with spray paint or stakes where the walls of the pool enclosure and any pool equipment will be.
If any changes have been made between when you submitted your site plan and the inspection, you’ll need to submit a revised site plan before installing your pool.

Install your pool

While you install your pool and enclosure, make sure that:

No changes are made to the site plan
Existing lot grading and drainage patterns are maintained
Municipal property (which includes roads, boulevards, sidewalks, easements and City-owned land) are free of equipment, debris and mud
You can find examples and more detailed information about the minimum requirements for your pool enclosure in the residential Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Installation Guide.

Schedule final inspections

Before you fill your pool for the first time, call 311 (905-615-4311 outside City limits) to arrange a final pool enclosure inspection.
If the swimming pool enclosure passes the final inspection, the inspector will email a PDF copy of your original application, date stamped with their approval. A Certificate of Approval will also be emailed to you at a later date. If you do not have an email address, the Certificate of Approval will be mailed.
After the pool has been installed, the enclosure is approved and any landscaping and sodding is complete, call 311 (or 905-615-4311 from outside City limits) to request a lot grading and municipal right-of-way inspection.
If the landscaping and sodding isn’t completed before your inspection, you will have to reschedule and pay an additional inspection fee of $300 plus HST.
The City will refund the lot grading deposit only when the property is clear of any deficiencies and a Swimming Pool Enclosure Certificate of approval is issued.

Only if you are removing an old concrete swimming pool from your property

Pool removals

If you are removing an old concrete swimming pool from your property, it is best practice to break up all concrete before backfilling the excavated area with soil. This is to allow for proper drainage.