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Henrico Pool Permit Cost (2026)

Swimming pool permit fees in Henrico County, Virginia, pulled directly from the official Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections fee schedule at henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees (page last updated December 2025, verified April 16, 2026). Henrico uses the residential 1-2 family formula for in-ground swimming pools: $100 base plus $6 per $1,000 of declared construction value above $5,000, capped at a $680 maximum building permit fee. Plan review is bundled into the base, so there is no separate plan review fee. Virginia's 2% state levy applies to the building permit fee only. A typical $30,000 in-ground pool building permit totals $255.00 all-in. Pool barrier fences, pool decks, and pool electrical scope follow the same formula when filed under the building permit, while pool electrical (pump motors, lighting, GFCI receptacles) and pool plumbing are filed as separate trade permits.

Pool Building Permit Formula
$100 + $6/$1,000 over $5,000
Minimum Building Permit
$100 (the base)
Maximum Cap
$680 (residential 1-2 family hard cap)
Plan Review
Bundled into base (no separate fee)
Virginia 2% State Levy
Applies to building permit fee only
$30,000 Pool All-In
$255.00
Last Verified
April 16, 2026
Fee Status
Verified December 2025 schedule
What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: Henrico County, Virginia residential in-ground swimming pool building permit fees as published in the official henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees schedule (page last updated December 2025). Coverage includes the residential 1-2 family formula ($100 base + $6 per $1,000 of declared value above $5,000, capped at $680), the bundled plan review (no separate fee), and Virginia's 2% state levy on the building permit fee.

This guide does NOT cover: Multi-family or commercial swimming pool permits, which fall under a different Henrico schedule. Spa or hot tub permits filed without a pool. Zoning approvals required before permit submission (setback verification, lot coverage, RPA or floodplain overlays). Health Department fees or licensing for community or HOA pools. Right-of-way or driveway encroachment permits. Landscape, irrigation, or stormwater permits triggered by pool installation. Costs from the pool installation contractor (excavation, shell, decking, equipment, labor). Pool electrical and plumbing trade permit fees - Henrico publishes residential trade permits as flat fees under its current schedule but the precise tier amounts should be verified directly with Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360.

Note on above-ground pools: Above-ground pools are generally required to be permitted in Henrico when water depth exceeds 24 inches. The same residential 1-2 family formula typically applies to the building scope, but applicants should verify with Henrico Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 before assuming exemption or fee category.

Note on pool barriers and accessory scope: The Virginia Construction Code requires a barrier (fence, wall, or equivalent) around any residential pool with water depth greater than 24 inches. In Henrico, pool barrier fences, pool decks, and pool electrical work added to the building scope follow the same residential 1-2 family formula. A pool barrier fence filed as a separate building permit also runs under the same formula based on declared fence cost. Trade permits (electrical sub-panel, pool circulation plumbing) are filed separately.

Key Takeaways
  • Henrico County uses the residential 1-2 family formula for in-ground swimming pools: $100 base plus $6 per $1,000 of declared construction value above $5,000. The formula scales smoothly with pool value but is bounded by a $680 hard cap on the building permit fee.
  • Plan review is bundled into the $100 base, so there is no separate plan review line item like Fairfax's 50% plan review or Norfolk's $50 plan review. The simpler structure makes Henrico's pool math fast: declared value, formula, levy, done.
  • Virginia's 2% state levy applies to the building permit fee only. For a $30,000 pool, the building permit is $250 and the state levy is $5.00, for an all-in total of $255.00. The levy scales with the building permit fee, so a $50,000 pool ($370 building permit) carries a $7.40 levy.
  • The $680 cap activates when declared construction value reaches roughly $98,333 (the value at which the formula would produce $680). Above that point, every additional dollar of pool value costs nothing additional in Henrico building permit fees - making Henrico structurally the cheapest verified Virginia jurisdiction for luxury pool builds.
  • For typical $20,000-$50,000 residential pools, Henrico falls right in the middle of the verified Virginia cluster - cheaper than Fairfax County ($413.10 flat) and Virginia Beach ($314.00), more expensive than Chesterfield County ($108.14 flat) and Norfolk City ($192.50).
  • The same residential 1-2 family formula applies to pool barrier fences, pool decks, and pool electrical scope when filed under the building permit. A separate $5,000 declared fence permit runs $100 base + $0 (because $5,000 - $5,000 = $0 over the threshold) + 2% levy = $102.00 all-in.
  • Pool electrical (pump motors, lighting, GFCI receptacles) and pool plumbing are filed as separate residential trade permits. Henrico publishes trade permits as flat fees under its current schedule, but the precise tier amounts should be verified with Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 before applying.
  • The henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees page was last updated December 2025 and verified April 16, 2026. Always confirm current pool permit rates and project classification with Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 before filing - schedules can change between fiscal year cycles.
Calculate Your Pool Permit All Henrico Permit Fees

Henrico Pool Permit Fee Components

Every Henrico in-ground pool building permit is built from two components: the residential 1-2 family formula building permit fee (capped at $680), and Virginia's 2% state levy applied to that building permit. Plan review is bundled into the base. Trade permits are billed separately.

Component Amount How It Is Calculated
Building permit fee (base) $100.00 Flat base for any residential 1-2 family permit. Applies even when declared value is at or below $5,000.
Value increment $6 per $1,000 Charged on every $1,000 of declared construction value above $5,000. Smooth scaling - no tier breaks.
Maximum cap $680.00 Hard cap on residential 1-2 family building permits. Activates around $98,333 declared value.
Plan review $0 (bundled) Plan review is bundled into the $100 base; no separate plan review line item.
2% Virginia state levy 2% of building permit Statutory under Code of Virginia §36-139 / USBC 107.2. Applied to the building permit fee only.
Example: $30,000 pool all-in $255.00 $100 + (25 x $6) = $250 building permit + ($250 x 2%) $5.00 levy = $255.00.

Source: Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections fee schedule at henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees, page last updated December 2025, verified April 16, 2026. Residential 1-2 family formula applies to swimming_pool_inground specifically. Virginia §36-139 state levy at 2% of building permit fee.

Worked Examples - Real Pool Projects in Henrico County

Each example shows arithmetic from the same Henrico fee schedule. Because the residential 1-2 family formula scales with declared construction value (and is capped at $680), the building permit math depends on the pool value declared on the application.

Example 1: $30,000 in-ground pool (standard residential reference)

A homeowner installs a 16 x 32 fiberglass in-ground pool with declared construction value of $30,000. Their back yard already has a code-compliant fence with self-closing self-latching gates. They will pull electrical and plumbing trade permits separately through their installer.

  • Base: $100.00
  • Value increment: ($30,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 x $6 = 25 x $6 = $150.00
  • Building permit subtotal: $250.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $250: $5.00
  • Total all-in: $255.00

Note: trade permits and any new fence permit are billed separately. Plan review is bundled into the $100 base, so there is no additional plan review line.

Example 2: $50,000 luxury in-ground pool with separate $5,000 pool barrier fence

A homeowner installs a 18 x 36 gunite in-ground pool with declared construction value of $50,000. The yard has no existing fence, so a new code-compliant pool barrier is filed as a separate building permit at $5,000 declared fence value.

In-ground pool building permit:

  • Base: $100.00
  • Value increment: ($50,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 x $6 = 45 x $6 = $270.00
  • Building permit subtotal: $370.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $370: $7.40
  • Subtotal: $377.40

Pool barrier fence (filed separately under same formula, $5,000 declared value):

  • Base: $100.00
  • Value increment: ($5,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 x $6 = 0 x $6 = $0.00
  • Building permit subtotal: $100.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $100: $2.00
  • Subtotal: $102.00

Combined: $479.40 - not including electrical and plumbing trade permits.

Note: the same residential 1-2 family formula applies to the fence. At a declared fence value at or below $5,000, the value increment is $0 and only the $100 base plus levy applies.

Example 3: $15,000 small in-ground pool

A homeowner installs a smaller plunge-style in-ground pool with declared construction value of $15,000. Existing yard fence already meets pool barrier requirements.

  • Base: $100.00
  • Value increment: ($15,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 x $6 = 10 x $6 = $60.00
  • Building permit subtotal: $160.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $160: $3.20
  • Total all-in: $163.20

Note: trade permits for pool electrical and plumbing are filed separately and add to the all-in total.

Example 4: $120,000 luxury pool - formula caps at $680 building permit

A homeowner installs a custom gunite in-ground pool with declared construction value of $120,000. At this value, the residential 1-2 family formula would produce a fee above the $680 cap, so the cap activates.

  • Formula yields: $100 + ($120,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 x $6 = $100 + (115 x $6) = $100 + $690 = $790
  • Capped building permit: $680.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $680: $13.60
  • Total all-in: $693.60

Decision rule: above roughly $98,333 declared value, every additional dollar of pool cost costs nothing additional in Henrico building permit fees because the cap is binding. This makes Henrico structurally the cheapest verified Virginia jurisdiction for luxury residential pools above ~$98,000 in declared value.

Calculate Your Henrico Pool Permit

The PermitPrice fee calculator supports the Henrico residential 1-2 family formula directly. Enter your declared construction value and the calculator returns the building permit fee with the cap applied (if relevant), plus the 2% Virginia state levy, broken down by component.

Calculator coverage for Henrico pools: $100 + $6/$1,000 over $5,000 formula, $680 cap enforcement, and 2% Virginia state levy. Trade permits are filed separately and not yet covered in the calculator for Henrico.

Open the Permit Fee Calculator

For pool electrical and plumbing trade permit costs, contact Henrico Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 - the trade permit tier amounts should be verified directly before applying.

Trade Permits Henrico Requires for Pools

Henrico's residential 1-2 family formula handles building scope: the pool shell, deck, and any structural barrier. Pool electrical (pump motor, lighting, GFCI receptacles) and pool plumbing are filed as separate trade permits beyond the building permit. Henrico publishes residential trade permits as flat fees under its current schedule but the precise tier amounts should be verified directly with the Building Construction and Inspections office before applying. This guide focuses on the building permit only; trade permits add to the all-in total.

Trade Permit Category Henrico Treatment When It Applies
Pool electrical Separate trade permit (verify tier with (804) 501-4360) Required for pool sub-panel, pump motor wiring, underwater lighting, GFCI receptacles within 20 feet of pool
Pool plumbing Separate trade permit (verify tier with (804) 501-4360) Required for pool fill line, main drain, skimmers, equalizers, return jets - typically filed as fixture-count tier
Pool mechanical Separate trade permit (gas heater only) Only required if a gas-fired pool heater is installed. Heat pumps and electric heaters are wired through electrical permit.
Pool barrier fence Same residential 1-2 family formula Filed as a building permit using the same $100 + $6/$1k over $5k formula based on declared fence value
Pool deck Same residential 1-2 family formula Pool deck added to the building permit scope follows the same formula based on declared deck value

Source: Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections fee schedule at henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees (page last updated December 2025, verified April 16, 2026). Residential trade permit tier amounts (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) should be verified directly with Henrico Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360. Pool electrical and plumbing trade permits are filed separately and add to the all-in total.

Henrico Pool Permit Cost vs Other Verified Virginia Jurisdictions

Same project assumption: $30,000 in-ground concrete pool, no separate fence permit, no electrical sub-permit. Henrico's $255.00 sits in the middle of the verified Virginia cluster - cheaper than Fairfax and Virginia Beach, more expensive than Chesterfield's flat fee. Above approximately $98,000 declared value, Henrico's $680 cap activates, making it the cheapest option for luxury pools.

Jurisdiction Pool Formula $30,000 All-In
Henrico County (this page) $100 + $6/$1k over $5k, capped $680 $255.00
Chesterfield County Flat $108.14 (verified FY2025-2026) $108.14
Norfolk City Flat $125 + $15 processing + 2% levy $192.50
Richmond City $63 + $6.07/$1k over $2k $237.62
Virginia Beach City $50 + $5/$1,000 alteration formula $314.00
Fairfax County Flat $270 + 50% plan review + 2% levy $413.10

All-in totals include the building permit fee, plan review (where bundled or separate), jurisdiction processing/technology fees, and the 2% Virginia state levy. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing) are excluded from these totals because they vary by installer scope. Henrico's residential 1-2 family formula reflects the schedule at henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees verified April 16, 2026; other jurisdictions use the verified formulas in their respective source.json files.

Decision Rule

For typical $20k-$50k residential pools, Henrico falls right in the middle of the verified VA cluster - cheaper than Fairfax and Virginia Beach, more expensive than Chesterfield's flat fee. Above ~$98,000 declared value, Henrico's $680 cap activates, making it the cheapest option for luxury pools.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Henrico County in-ground pool building permit uses the residential 1-2 family formula: $100 base plus $6 per $1,000 of declared construction value above $5,000, capped at $680. A typical $30,000 pool runs $250 building permit + $5.00 Virginia state levy = $255.00 all-in. A $50,000 pool runs $370 + $7.40 = $377.40. A $15,000 pool runs $160 + $3.20 = $163.20. Plan review is bundled into the $100 base, so there is no separate plan review line item. Pool electrical and plumbing trade permits are filed separately and add to the all-in total - verify trade tiers with Henrico Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360.
Yes. Swimming pools are filed under Henrico's residential 1-2 family scope, and the $680 cap applies as a hard ceiling on the building permit fee. The cap activates when declared construction value reaches roughly $98,333 (the value at which the formula $100 + $6/$1k over $5k would produce $680). Above that point, every additional dollar of pool cost costs nothing additional in Henrico building permit fees. With Virginia's 2% state levy, a capped pool runs $680 + $13.60 = $693.60 all-in regardless of declared value above ~$98,000.
No. A pool barrier fence is filed as a separate building permit when a new code-compliant fence is required. The same residential 1-2 family formula applies based on the declared fence value. At $5,000 or below in declared fence cost, only the $100 base plus 2% levy applies (the value increment is $0 because the threshold is $5,000), so a $5,000 fence permit runs $102.00 all-in. If your existing yard fence already meets pool barrier requirements (minimum height, self-closing self-latching gates, no climbable pool side), no additional permit is required - confirm with Henrico Building Construction and Inspections before assuming.
The residential 1-2 family formula covers single-family and two-family detached homes only. Multi-family residential pool permits (townhouse community pools, apartment complex pools, condo association pools) and commercial swimming pool permits (hotel, fitness club, public pool) follow different Henrico schedules with different fees. If you are filing a pool permit for any property type other than a single-family or two-family detached home, contact Henrico Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 before assuming the residential formula applies.
The applicant states declared construction value on the building permit application, typically based on the contractor's bid for the pool installation (excavation, shell, decking, equipment, labor). Henrico Building Construction and Inspections staff review the declared value and may ask for a contractor invoice or supporting documentation if the declared figure looks inconsistent with the project scope. Understating value to lower the permit fee is not advisable - if discovered during inspection, the permit can be re-fee'd or revoked. Use the contractor's bid for the building scope as the declared value, and exclude landscape, hardscape, and decorative additions that are not part of the pool building permit.
Generally yes when water depth exceeds 24 inches. The Virginia Construction Code (USBC) and the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code require permits for any pool with a circulation system or a fixed installation deeper than 24 inches. The same residential 1-2 family formula typically applies to above-ground pool building scope in Henrico, but applicants should verify with Henrico Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 before assuming exemption or fee category. Portable wading pools designed to be drained and stored are generally exempt; semi-permanent above-ground pools with pumps and filters are not.
Yes. Pool electrical (pump motor, lighting, GFCI receptacles within 20 feet of the pool, sub-panel circuits) and pool plumbing (fill line, main drain, skimmers, equalizers, return jets) are filed as separate residential trade permits in Henrico. Henrico publishes residential trade permits as flat fees under its current schedule but the precise tier amounts should be verified directly with Henrico Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 before applying. Mechanical permits apply only if a gas pool heater is installed - heat pumps and electric pool heaters are wired through the electrical permit instead. Trade permits add to the all-in total beyond the building permit fee covered in this guide.
Henrico is cheaper than Fairfax for typical residential pool values. A $30,000 in-ground pool runs $255.00 all-in in Henrico versus $413.10 all-in in Fairfax - a $158.10 difference. Henrico's formula scales with declared value (cheaper for low-cost pools) but is capped at $680 building permit (cheaper for luxury pools), while Fairfax uses a $270 flat building permit + 50% plan review + 2% levy that does not move with pool value. The cross-over point where Fairfax's flat fee becomes cheaper than Henrico's formula is around $32,000 declared value - below that, Fairfax is more expensive; above that and up to about $98,000, Fairfax is cheaper; above $98,000, Henrico's $680 cap makes it the cheapest verified Virginia jurisdiction. See the Fairfax pool permit guide for the full Fairfax math.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified April 2026
Next Step

Calculate your specific Henrico pool permit cost, see all Henrico fee categories, or compare against neighbouring Virginia jurisdictions.

Virginia pool permit guide → Fairfax pool permit guide → Richmond pool permit guide → Norfolk pool permit guide → All Guides →
Always verify directly with Henrico Building Construction and Inspections before budgeting or filing. The henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees schedule was page-last-updated December 2025 and verified April 16, 2026, and is the current published rate sheet at the time of writing. Call (804) 501-4360 to confirm pool, fence, and trade permit rates and project classification before submitting an application. Confirm above-ground pool, multi-family, and commercial pool fee categories with Building Construction and Inspections - these are not on the residential 1-2 family schedule and may run under different formulas.
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections at the time of application. Pool electrical and plumbing trade permit fees are not itemized in this guide because Henrico's residential trade permit tier amounts should be verified directly with Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360. Pool barrier requirements vary based on existing yard fence compliance with the Virginia Construction Code. Above-ground pool, multi-family, and commercial pool permit treatment is not covered by the residential 1-2 family formula and should be confirmed with the building department before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.