Richmond Hill pool enclosure permits · Reformity Inc.Pool Fence Permit in Richmond Hill
Yes. Richmond Hill requires a combined pool enclosure and site alteration permit before you build an in-ground or permanent above-ground pool, and the pool can't be filled until the City inspects it; a hot tub that doesn't change grading needs no site alteration permit and can skip the enclosure with a permanently fixed, locked cover.
We prepare and submit your permit drawings to the City of Richmond Hill, then build to the approved plan.
Do you need a permit?
Pool fence permit rules in Richmond Hill.
In Richmond Hill, a new pool's fence has no separate permit: one combined Swimming Pool Site Alteration Permit covers the enclosure, zoning setbacks, trees and grading. For an in-ground pool the fence is drawn onto a grading plan by an engineer or Ontario Land Surveyor, with swales, existing trees and a 0.6 m undisturbed strip at the lot lines. On a new subdivision lot, the developer's engineer must certify lot grading first; Oak Ridges Moraine lots need a pre-consultation meeting, and parts of North Leslie don't allow pools. Above all, the fence sits at least 1.5 m from the water, and the pool stays empty until inspected.
Checked against the City of Richmond Hill's own by-laws and pages in November 2026. Rules change, so we confirm them for your address before we draw.
Permit before you dig
In-ground and permanent above-ground pools need the City's combined pool enclosure and site alteration permit. An enclosure is required around any artificially contained outdoor body of water that can be deeper than 0.6 m (1.96 ft), and building a pool without the permit can bring administrative penalties.
City of Richmond Hill: Swimming Pool Site Alteration PermitEnclosure height and placement
For a property serving a single dwelling unit, the enclosure must be 1.2 m to 1.8 m high (1.8 m to 3.7 m on multiple-residential property), measured from the highest ground within 1.0 m of its outside face, and at least 1.5 m from the water's edge. Facing material must start within 50 mm of the ground.
Fence By-law, Municipal Code Chapter 973, ss.973.2.44 and 973.7.13-973.7.16 (PDF)Self-closing, self-latching gates
Every gate must be self-closing, hung on substantial hinges, with a lockable self-latching device near the top on the inside, or on the outside at least 1.5 m above grade. A 100 mm gap underneath is allowed only over paving extending 0.5 m each side.
Fence By-law, Municipal Code Chapter 973, ss.973.7.20-973.7.24 (PDF)Nothing to climb
No climbable members on the outside face between 100 mm and 1.2 m above grade. Wood boards: gaps of 38 mm at most where rails are under 1.2 m apart, 100 mm where they're 1.2 m or more apart. Keep the enclosure 1.0 m from anything climbable, or raise it to 1.8 m for 1.0 m either side.
Fence By-law, Municipal Code Chapter 973, ss.973.7.17-973.7.25 (PDF)Where the pool can go
Under By-law 93-25 (in force on most lots), pools are allowed in side, flankage and rear yards. Rear yard: no part of the pool or its deck within 1.5 m of a lot line. Side or flankage yard: the house's required setbacks or 1.5 m, whichever is greater. Maximum 1.5 m above grade, and 7 m from the TransCanada Pipeline right-of-way. Not permitted in Greenway zones or parts of North Leslie.
Zoning By-law 93-25, s.3.19 and Exception 13.16 (PDF, Aug. 31, 2026 consolidation)
What the city asks for
The Richmond Hill application.
Issued by: City of Richmond Hill: one combined Swimming Pool Site Alteration Permit (Site Alteration By-law 47-25, administered by Infrastructure and Engineering Services) that includes the pool enclosure permit required by Fence By-law Chapter 973. We put the package together, submit it and keep you posted.
Documents
- Online Swimming Pool Site Alteration Permit application, executed by the owner
- In-ground pool: Grading Plan (PDF) by a Professional Engineer or Ontario Land Surveyor, to Schedule B of By-law 47-25
- Completed Grading Plan Requirements and Submission Checklist
- Enclosure on the plan: fence at least 1.5 m from the water, height (1.2 m to 1.8 m) and type, gate locations, self-closing and self-latching gates, and child-proof locks at least 1.5 m above the floor on doors from the house
- Existing trees on the lot and within 6 m of the work, including neighbours' trees, with size and protection zones; an arborist report if a tree 15 cm DBH or more is injured or removed
- Above-ground pool with no grading change: a scaled sketch with setbacks and dimensions may be accepted
- Developer's lot grading certificate if the subdivision is unassumed
- Where applicable: TRCA permit, Oak Ridges Moraine pre-consultation, Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment or heritage permit application, archaeological assessment
How it goes
- 1We confirm the pool location with the City's Zoning Compliance staff and check for TRCA, Oak Ridges Moraine, site plan control (beside a railway or within 120 m of a shoreline), heritage or unassumed-subdivision requirements.
- 2We lay out the enclosure and gates and coordinate them with the engineer's or surveyor's grading plan, which has to show the enclosure details.
- 3We prepare the online application, grading plan and checklist for the owner to sign and submit them through the City's permit portal; By-law 47-25 makes it a condition of issue that the applicant is the owner and has signed the application. Staff then email an invoice for the fees and refundable security.
- 4The registered owner pays by certified cheque or bank draft; the City doesn't accept credit cards or personal cheques for this permit.
- 5With the permit posted on site, we build behind a temporary enclosure and notify the City in writing within 48 hours of starting.
- 6When the work is done, the City is notified to inspect before the pool is filled, and the owner emails sitealteration@richmondhill.ca to request the security release.
- Processing time
- Not published. A site alteration permit is valid for one year from issue, and expires after six months if work hasn't started (By-law 47-25, s.8).
- Inspections
- No water may go into a newly built pool until the City has been notified and has inspected it (Chapter 973, s.973.7.4). Once the work is complete, the owner emails sitealteration@richmondhill.ca to request the security release; staff then carry out mandatory inspections and list any deficiencies, which can mean a re-inspection.
Pool enclosure fence — sheet 1 — Elevation, board-on-board section and post-footing detail. From a real Reformity permit drawing set, client details removed. Click to enlarge.
Pool enclosure fence — sheet 2
Pool enclosure fence — sheet 3
Permit drawings included
We prepare and submit your permit drawings.
Fence elevation, board and post-footing details, gate hardware and a key plan of the enclosure, drawn to the City of Richmond Hill's rules and submitted with your pool enclosure permit application.
- Dimensions to your lot lines
- Materials, sizes and spacing
- Footing and base sections
- Code notes for the inspector
Fencing · real projects
Recent fencing jobs in and around Richmond Hill.
Real Reformity jobs from our project files. Customer addresses are never published.
Richmond Hill pool fence permit FAQ
Quick answers.
By the by-law's wording, yes: Chapter 973 defines erecting a fence to include reconstructing, altering and relocating it, and no one may erect a pool enclosure without a permit. The City's pool permit page lists a separate enclosure fee for pool or hot tub alterations and sends questions to By-law, so we confirm the application route with them first.
Usually not a site alteration permit: the City says hot tubs that don't alter grading or drainage don't need one, and asks you to check the enclosure requirements with By-law. Under Chapter 973, a hot tub needs no enclosure, and so no enclosure permit, if a substantial cover is permanently fixed to it and locked when it isn't in use.
Yes. A door through that wall into the pool area is allowed only if it has a bolt or chain latch at least 1.5 m above the inside floor and the wall is at least 1.2 m from the water's edge. At least one entrance to the house also has to be outside the enclosure.
Send the form on this page or call 437-241-6287. We reply within one business day, visit to measure, prepare the drawings for the City of Richmond Hill, submit the application and give you a fixed written price for the work.
Let us handle the Richmond Hill permit.
We measure, draw it to the City of Richmond Hill's rules, submit the application and build to the approved plan. One business-day reply.