Building a pool in Metro Orlando

Building a Pool in the City of Orlando

Professional Pool Company — What Homeowners Need to Know Before Building a Pool Inside Orlando City Limits

Building a pool inside the City of Orlando (not unincorporated Orange County) comes with its own set of permit rules, zoning requirements, and drainage regulations. The city has one of the more detailed review processes in Central Florida, especially regarding setbacks, trees, and stormwater.

This guide explains everything you need to know before building a pool in the City of Orlando.

⭐ 1. City of Orlando vs. Orange County — Big Difference

Many homeowners don’t realize that the City of Orlando has its own independent permitting office and does NOT follow Orange County’s rules.

The City of Orlando is known for:

✔ Detailed site plan requirements

✔ Extremely strict tree protection rules

✔ Irrigation/backflow requirements

✔ Historic district restrictions in certain neighborhoods

✔ Drainage reviews based on lot grading

✔ Slower review times than surrounding cities

Most permits take 4–6 weeks depending on corrections.

⭐ 2. What the City of Orlando Requires Before Permit Submission

We cannot submit your pool permit until the following items are prepared:

✔ 1. Engineered Pool Plans

Stamped structural drawings that include:

Shell layout
Steel schedule
Beam sections
Step/bench details
Spa drawings (if applicable)

✔ 2. Current Property Survey

Must include:

Lot lines
All easements
Setbacks
Driveway
Home footprint
Elevations
Utility lines

Surveys older than 1–3 years may be rejected if missing information.

✔ 3. Comprehensive Site Plan

The City requires a higher level of detail than most counties.

Includes:

Pool placement with distances
Deck area limits
Equipment pad location
Drainage flow direction
Tree locations (critical!)
Impervious area calculations
Access path

✔ 4. Drainage & Stormwater Notes

City of Orlando frequently requests:

Runoff direction arrows
Grading notes
Existing vs. proposed impervious area
Drainage swale preservation
Possible French drain additions

✔ 5. Tree Preservation Requirements

One of the strictest in Central Florida.

City often requires:

Tree location survey
Root zone protection
Tree mitigation fees if removal is required
Arborist letter (when needed)

✔ 6. HOA Approval (if applicable)

HOAs are common in:

Lake Nona (City side)
Baldwin Park
Vista Lakes
Laureate Park
Avalon Park (City portions)

⭐ 3. Permitting Timeline in the City of Orlando

Typical Review Time:

4–6 weeks

Departments Involved:

Building
Zoning
Engineering/Stormwater
Tree Protection Division
Public Works (if needed)
Corrections/resubmittals

Reviews are detailed, and corrections are common.

⭐ 4. Property Considerations Unique to the City of Orlando

✔ 1. Tree Protection Rules

If you’re inside city limits, this is one of the biggest hurdles.

Orlando enforces:

Protected species rules
Minimum required trees per lot
Replacement/mitigation fees for removals
Strict root zone boundaries

Trees may limit pool size or placement.

✔ 2. Drainage Restrictions

Many neighborhoods have:

Sloped lots
Existing swales
Tight stormwater systems
Older infrastructure

The city may require additional grading notes or drainage corrections.

✔ 3. Impervious Area Limits

The City of Orlando has caps on hard surface area.

Pools + decks count toward:

Lot coverage
Impervious area
Maximum rear yard percentage

This affects deck size and design.

✔ 4. Historic District Restrictions

Certain neighborhoods require:

Additional review
Architectural compatibility
Fence style restrictions
Strict access rules

Common areas include:

Lake Eola Heights
Lake Cherokee
College Park (certain streets)
Delaney Park

✔ 5. Septic Setbacks (if applicable)

Some Orlando homes are still on septic.

City requires:

Tank setbacks
Drain field protection
Reserve area setbacks

This may affect pool placement.

⭐ 5. Required Inspections

The City of Orlando requires standard Florida Building Code inspections:

1. Steel Inspection

Before gunite.

2. Electrical Bonding Inspection

For pump, steel, heater, and salt system.

3. Plumbing Pressure Test

Ensures plumbing integrity.

4. Deck/Footer Inspection

For concrete, pavers, or screen enclosures.

5. Final Inspection

Inspector verifies:

Barrier requirements
Drainage compliance
Equipment operation
Water clarity/startup
Setback accuracy
Access gate and alarm compliance

Passing the final is required before pool completion.

⭐ 6. Safety Requirements (City of Orlando)

The city follows Florida Building Code rules:

✔ 4’ fence

✔ Baby barrier

✔ Screen enclosure with self-latching doors

✔ Door/window alarms

✔ Self-closing gates

Barrier must be installed before final inspection.

⭐ 7. Construction Timeline (After Permit Approval)

Excavation – 1–2 days
Plumbing & Steel – 2–4 days
Inspections – 1–3 days
Gunite – 1 day + curing
Tile & Coping – 2–4 days
Deck installation – 3–7 days
Interior finish & startup – 2–3 days

Most City of Orlando builds take 12–18 weeks, depending on:

Inspection schedules
Soil conditions
Drainage requirements
Tree impact
Access limitations

⭐ 8. Tips for a Smooth City of Orlando Build

✔ Get your survey early

Outdated or incomplete surveys cause delays.

✔ Tree locations matter

Tree conflicts cause more corrections than any other item.

✔ Expect drainage questions

The City almost always requests clarifications.

✔ HOA approval must come first

Most HOAs require pre-approval.

✔ Understand impervious limits

Deck reductions may be required to meet coverage rules.

⭐ 9. Summary: Building a Pool in the City of Orlando

Homeowners can expect:

✔ 4–6 week permitting timeline

✔ Detailed drainage/stormwater review

✔ Strict tree protection rules

✔ Lot coverage and impervious limits

✔ Multiple inspections

✔ 12–18 week construction timeline

City of Orlando permitting is more detailed than most counties, but once approved, construction moves smoothly and predictably.

⭐ Ready to Build Your City of Orlando Pool?

Professional Pool Company handles:

✔ 3D design

✔ Engineering

✔ HOA coordination

✔ Tree surveys

✔ All City of Orlando permitting

✔ Drainage compliance

✔ Full construction process

✔ Final inspection and startup

👉 Contact us anytime to begin your City of Orlando pool project.

Need help right now?

Call us at 321-252-7371 or schedule a design consultation at this link.

Updated on: 29/11/2025

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