Arlington County Swimming Pool Zoning and Setback Regulations

In Arlington County, private swimming pools are permitted by-right as accessory uses in residential districts, while in-ground pools must be factored into the maximum lot coverage calculations for the property. Community, semi-public, and commercial swimming pools are generally subject to more stringent requirements, including a mandatory 100-foot setback from residential property lines and a minimum fence height of six feet. All swimming pool lighting must be shielded and directed to ensure that light rays do not extend beyond the Arlington County property's boundary lines.

Primary Classifications and Permissions

The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance distinguishes between pools based on their ownership and intended use. These are categorized into three main types:

Private Swimming Pool: A pool located on the same lot as a one-family residence, intended solely for the use of the occupants and their guests [Section 18.2].
Community Swimming Pool: An artificial pool (including auxiliary structures like locker rooms) intended for members and guests of a community or nonprofit group [Section 18.2].
Commercial Swimming Pool: A pool operated for gain, which includes pools located at hotels [Section 18.2].

In Residential (R) Districts and Residential Apartment (RA) Districts, private swimming pools are classified as accessory uses and are permitted by-right [Section 5.1.4, Section 6.1.4]. Community swimming pools in these districts typically require a Use Permit (U) [Section 5.1.2].

Technical Standards and Setbacks

Arlington County enforces specific spatial requirements to mitigate the impact of pools on neighboring residential properties.

Swimming Pool Development Standards

Regulation	Private Swimming Pool	Community / Commercial Swimming Pool
Permission Type	By-right (P) in R and RA districts [Section 5.1.4, 6.1.4]	Use Permit (U) or Site Plan (S) required in most districts [Section 5.1.2, 7.1.2]
Minimum Setback	Must comply with general accessory structure placements; may not encroach into required yards [Section 12.9.1, 3.2.6]	100 feet from an R district property line or the center line of any street in an R district [Section 12.4.8.C]
Fence Height	Subject to general district fence limits (typically 4–7 feet) [Section 3.2.6.A.3.e]	Minimum 6 feet in height [Section 12.4.8.A]
Lighting	Must be hooded/confined within property lines [Section 12.9.17]	Must be hooded/confined within property lines [Section 12.4.8.B]
Lot Coverage	In-ground pools count toward coverage; Above-ground pools/hot tubs do not [Section 3.1.4.A]	Counts toward site-wide coverage and placement standards [Section 12.4.8.E]

Lot Coverage and Encroachments

When calculating the intensity of use for an Arlington County residential lot, the following rules apply regarding pool structures:

In-Ground Pools: The area of an in-ground swimming pool is included in the "Lot Coverage" percentage. This is determined by dividing the total square feet of identified features by the gross area of the lot [Section 3.1.4.A.1].
Above-Ground Pools and Hot Tubs: These are explicitly excluded from lot coverage calculations and do not count toward the property's maximum coverage limit [Section 3.1.4.A.2].
Prohibited Encroachments: Generally, no building or structure (which includes pools) shall encroach into a required yard or court unless specifically listed as an allowed encroachment. Swimming pools are not listed as an allowed encroachment for required yards [Section 3.2.6.A.3].

Community and Commercial Pool Provisions

For community or commercial pools, the Arlington County Board may modify certain standards (such as fencing or placement) through the Use Permit process. However, the Board must find that the modification balances the impact of the pool with the general welfare of the public [Section 12.4.8.E].

Refreshments: Food and drink services are permitted at these locations only as an incidental part of the pool development. They must be operated solely for convenience and are restricted to the hours and seasons the pool is operational [Section 12.4.8.D].
Parking: Parking areas for community pools cannot be located closer to the front street line than the established building line for that specific district [Section 12.4.8.C.1].

Sections Cited