A health license is required for new water recreation facilities or whenever there is a change of ownership. The license must be renewed annually by submitting:
- Water Recreation Facility License Application (online or PDF(PDF, 292KB))
- Electrical Inspection Form (online or PDF(PDF, 331KB))
- Ask a Master Electrician to complete this form for each body of water. If completed online, the facility owner will get a copy via email to submit with their application.
- Fee:
- $400 for year-round pools
- $200 for seasonal pools
- $100 for each additional body of water.
Payable via mail, phone, or in-person. Make checks and money orders payable to Treasurer, Arlington County.
- Pre-opening inspection (new facilities and seasonal renewals). Call 703-228-7444, option 4 to schedule.
Plan Review
To build and operate public swimming pools, spas, and interactive water features in Arlington County, you must follow Chapter 24.1, Water Recreation Facilities Ordinance(PDF, 503KB) of the Arlington County Code.
Before starting construction, submit your plans and pay a $160 plan review fee. You can do this online through the Permit Arlington Customer Portal. For more details, visit the Arlington County Permit Office’s website Commercial Building Permit Submission Requirements.
Public Pool Connections
New public or commercial pools must be connected to the sanitary sewer system. For information about swimming pool connections and requirements, contact Arlington County’s Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division at 703-228-3800.
All swimming pools in Arlington County must have a certified lifeguard and a person in charge on site during all hours of pool operation. The person in charge must be skilled in water chemistry, hydraulics, microbiology, and other areas related to safe pool and spa operation.
Arlington County Code § 24.1-56 requires pool owners to report drownings, non-fatal drownings, and serious injuries to the Public Health Division during business hours at 703-228-7444, option 4. During evenings and weekends, call 703-558-2222 and ask for the Public Health Duty Officer. Submit the Drowning and Injury Report Form(PDF, 156KB).
The Federal law known as the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires public pools to have compliant pool drain covers and secondary anti-entrapment systems installed.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds public pool owners and operators about the importance of drain safety. Their 2025 reminder letter(PDF, 426KB) includes educational materials with images and instructions to help ensure that drain covers and systems are working properly. For more information, you can also visit CPSC's Pool and Spa Drain Covers website.
There are steps you can take to prevent illness and injury at water recreation facilities. Below is a list of resources to help ensure you have a healthy swimming experience each and every time.
During the spring and fall, large amounts of water from swimming pools and spas are discharged into the storm drain system. In Arlington, this system drains directly into streams. If not disposed of properly, pool and spa water can harm our streams. Chemicals like chlorine, bromine, algaecides, cleaning chemicals, and low oxygen levels can kill fish and other aquatic life. Additionally, draining large volumes of water quickly can cause stream bank erosion.
More Information from the Department of Environmental Services
Outdoor pools in Arlington County can apply for a variance to host a dog swim at the end of summer. This variance allows an exception to County Code Chapter 24.1, Section 18 (Animals). The Arlington County Public Health Division reviews and approves these requests.
Apply using one of the following options:
When You Can Hold a Dog Swim
- Hold the event only after the pool season ends and no swimmers are allowed in the pool.
- A dog swim variance does not allow dogs in the pool during normal operating hours. It applies only to the specific event and timeframe listed in the approved variance.
What You Must Do
Once approved, post the variance where the public can see it and follow these rules:
Dog & Owner Requirements
- Each dog must be with one adult.
- Dogs must be on a leash and under control when outside the pool.
- Dogs must have:
- A current rabies vaccination
- An Arlington County license
- Do not allow dogs with:
-
- Diarrhea or loose stools
- Open sores
- Signs of illness or aggression
- Remove any dog that poses a public health risk.
Pool Safety & Staffing
- Keep proper disinfectant levels in the pool (as required by Chapter 24.1).
- Limit the number of dogs to your pool’s maximum bather load.
- Have one lifeguard on duty for every 50 dogs during the event.
- Keep people out of the pool, unless helping a dog in an emergency.
- After the event, super-chlorinate the pool for at least one full turnover before closing it for winter. Do not allow swimmers in the pool after the dog swim.
If a Dog Bites Someone