Reference · Permitting
Arizona Pool Removal Permit Requirements
The issuing municipality, county, or other authority controls the permit record for a pool removal in Arizona. This reference normalizes what each covered jurisdiction publishes — with official links, verification dates, and a downloadable CSV.
How to read this table
Rows marked verified were checked against the issuing authority on the date shown, field by field. Rows marked directory point you to the right office without pretending to detail we have not verified — use the linked authority's current published requirements. No row here determines any specific property's jurisdiction; the parcel does that, and city mailing addresses regularly cross county and municipal lines in the East Valley.
Download the full table as CSV — same data, same columns, machine-readable.
Verified jurisdictions
Mesa
City of Mesa — Development Services
- Permit required
- Yes. A demolition permit is required for an inground swimming pool when removal is not part of new construction; filling in an inground pool is listed as permit-required residential work.
- Application portal
- DIMES (Mesa's online development portal)
- Fees
- Fees based on estimated construction costs; fees-due notice issued through DIMES after approval. No single fixed pool-removal fee published.
- Review target
- 10 working days (working days counted Monday–Thursday, excluding holidays); paid five-working-day expedited option. Issued permits valid 180 days.
- Technical standard
- City permit and inspection process governs the approved method; flood-zone parcels need Maricopa County Flood Control District approval before the City application.
- Inspections
- Inspections and closeout per the approved permit; keep the permit record and completion documents.
- Notes
- Pool draining guidance: landscape or sanitary-sewer cleanout on the property, no City notification required; ~12 gpm recommended max at the cleanout.
City of Mesa — Residential Construction; Demolition Permit FAQ
Checked July 27, 2026 · City of Mesa — Development Services
Unincorporated Maricopa County
Maricopa County Planning & Development
- Permit required
- Yes. Pool and spa demolition governed by directive DD-5015-01 (adopted November 21, 2025) with full-removal, partial-removal, and abandon-in-place paths.
- Application portal
- Maricopa County Planning & Development online permitting
- Fees
- Per County fee schedule at application.
- Review target
- Per County intake; no fixed published target verified for this work type.
- Technical standard
- Partial removal: walls down to at least 18 inches below grade; two floor openings at least 2 feet by 2 feet (deep and shallow ends); equipment removed; drains capped; electrical removed to the main service panel. Building planned over or within 5 feet: engineered backfill to at least 90% relative density with approved compaction report. Abandon-in-place: recorded no-structure restriction.
- Inspections
- Inspections per the directive and issued permit; compaction report where required.
- Notes
- County dust-control permit applies county-wide when total disturbed area reaches 0.10 acre / 4,356 sq ft; Rule 310 applies below the threshold.
Maricopa County — Pool and Spa Demolition Directive DD-5015-01
Checked July 27, 2026 · Maricopa County Planning & Development
Directory jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Authority | Where to confirm | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert | Town of Gilbert — Development Services | Town of Gilbert — Development Services | Directory row — not field-verified; use the Town's current published requirements. |
| Chandler | City of Chandler — Development Services | City of Chandler — Development Services | Directory row — not field-verified; use the City's current published requirements. |
| Tempe | City of Tempe — Community Development | City of Tempe — Community Development | Directory row — not field-verified; use the City's current published requirements. |
| Queen Creek | Town of Queen Creek — Development Services | Town of Queen Creek — Development Services | Directory row — not field-verified; use the Town's current published requirements. |
| Apache Junction | City of Apache Junction — Development Services (Pinal County side common) | City of Apache Junction — Development Services | Parts of Apache Junction sit in Pinal County; the parcel decides the authority. |
| Scottsdale | City of Scottsdale — Planning & Development | City of Scottsdale — Planning & Development | Directory row — not field-verified; use the City's current published requirements. |
| Phoenix | City of Phoenix — Planning & Development | City of Phoenix — Planning & Development | Directory row — not field-verified; use the City's current published requirements. |
Two rules that cross jurisdiction lines
Dust control. Maricopa County's dust-permit threshold — 0.10 acre / 4,356 square feet of total disturbed area, counting access, staging, and storage — applies county-wide regardless of which city issues the demolition permit, and Rule 310 governs dust-generating work below the threshold.
Utility locating. Arizona 811 notice at least two full working days before digging applies statewide under A.R.S. § 40-360.22, and it marks only participating operators' lines — private lines serving the pool need private locating.
Checked July 27, 2026 against the issuing authority
Using this while comparing quotes
This reference answers what the authority requires; the other half of a good decision is what each written quote actually includes. When you have the permit picture for your jurisdiction and are ready to put the project in front of a provider, start a service request with the pool, the access, and the plan for the ground.
Deeper research
For a full primary-source audit across 16 Arizona jurisdictions — including Glendale, Tucson, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and 12 additional cities and counties — see the Arizona pool removal permit requirements: 2026 audit. That page includes seven data tables, 15 key statistics with source citations, a downloadable 28-column dataset (CSV and JSON), and a complete primary-source register.