Templates
Pool Inspection ChecklistEvery Inspection During a Pool Build
November 3, 202612 min readBy the Ardovia team
A gunite or shotcrete pool typically goes through six or seven inspections during construction: layout and setbacks, pre-gunite steel and bonding, plumbing pressure test, electrical and equipotential bonding, pre-deck, barrier and fence, and a final. Inspectors check that the work matches the approved plans and the local code — steel and bonding before the shell is shot, pressure on the lines, bonding before the deck is poured, and a code-compliant barrier before final. Requirements and order vary by jurisdiction, so confirm the list on your permit with your local building department.
Free template
Free pool construction inspection checklist
A printable checklist for all seven common pool construction inspections, with the items to check before each one and a date, inspector, result, and corrections row for every inspection.
What's included
- All seven common pool inspections
- Pre-inspection checklist items for each
- Pass, partial, or fail result with date and inspector
- Notes and corrections line for every inspection
- Final approval with superintendent sign-off
No sign-up required. Free to use and edit for your business.
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Which inspections does a pool build need?
Most in-ground pools need a building permit, and the permit comes with required inspections. The inspector's job is to see the work before it gets covered — steel before concrete, plumbing before backfill, bonding before the deck — and to confirm the finished pool is safe before anyone swims.
Many jurisdictions base their pool rules on the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), with electrical work under the pool article of the National Electrical Code (NEC Article 680). But each city or county adopts its own edition and adds its own changes. Some combine inspections, some split them, and some add their own, like an erosion-control or engineering inspection.
Treat the list below as the typical set for a gunite or shotcrete pool, and check it against the inspections printed on your permit.
Example
See it filled in
Here is the same template completed for a sample job, so you can see how much detail goes in each field before you fill out your own.
Pool inspection checklist at a glance
The common inspections in build order, with when they happen and what they're for.
| # | Inspection | When | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Layout / setback | After layout, before or right after excavation | The pool is where the approved plan says, with the required setbacks |
| 2 | Pre-gunite steel & bonding | Steel set, before shotcrete or gunite | Rebar and bonding match the engineered plan |
| 3 | Plumbing pressure test | Lines in, before the shell or backfill covers them | Lines hold pressure; drains meet anti-entrapment rules |
| 4 | Electrical & equipotential bonding | Before the deck is poured; again at electrical final | Bonding, GFCI protection, wiring, and equipment grounding |
| 5 | Pre-deck | Deck forms set, before the pour | Deck forms, slope, drainage, and perimeter bonding |
| 6 | Barrier, fence & alarms | Before final | Fence, gates, and door protections meet the barrier code |
| 7 | Final | Pool complete and running | Everything above passed; the pool is safe to use |
Order, names, and requirements differ between jurisdictions. Your permit is the source of truth.
Step by step
What inspectors check at each inspection — and why pools fail
Use these as the items your superintendent walks before calling for each inspection. A failed inspection usually costs a few days; a pre-inspection walk usually costs ten minutes.
- 1
Layout / setback inspection
The inspector checks the pool outline against the approved site plan and measures setbacks to property lines, the house, septic systems, and easements. Common fail reasons: the pool moved from the plan, setbacks measured from the wrong point, no utility locate (811) marks, or the permit card and plans not on site.
- 2
Pre-gunite steel and bonding inspection
Also called the pre-shotcrete or steel inspection. The inspector checks rebar size, spacing, and laps against the engineered plan, that steel is held up off the soil, and that the bond wire is attached to the steel and to light niches and metal fittings. Common fail reasons: steel sitting on dirt, missing or loose bond connections, spacing that doesn't match the plan, or no engineer's letter where one is required.
- 3
Plumbing pressure test
The lines are capped and put under pressure, and the inspector checks the gauge, pipe sizes, and suction outlets. Common fail reasons: a line that won't hold pressure, no gauge or a gauge the inspector can't read, or main drains and suction outlets that don't meet the anti-entrapment requirements your code adopts. A gas line to the heater is often a separate test or permit.
- 4
Electrical and equipotential bonding inspection
Equipotential bonding ties the pool shell, the deck area around the pool, metal parts, and equipment together so there are no voltage differences a swimmer could feel. Under the NEC, the bonded perimeter typically extends about 3 feet out from the pool wall. The inspector also checks GFCI protection, wiring methods, conduit and burial depth, and the light junction box. Common fail reasons: perimeter bonding missing or incomplete before the deck pour, equipment not bonded, missing GFCI protection, or a junction box in the wrong spot.
- 5
Pre-deck inspection
Some jurisdictions inspect before the deck is poured to see the forms, slope, drainage, and perimeter bonding one last time. Common fail reasons: deck sloped toward the house or the pool, perimeter bonding not visible or not connected, or forms that don't match the approved deck layout.
- 6
Barrier, fence and alarm inspection
The barrier keeps young children out of the pool when no one is watching. Many codes based on the ISPSC call for a barrier at least 48 inches high, openings too small for a 4-inch sphere to pass through, and gates that self-close and self-latch and open away from the pool. Doors from the house that open into the pool area often need alarms or another approved protection. Common fail reasons: gates that don't latch every time, a gate swinging the wrong way, gaps under the fence, climbable objects next to the barrier, or missing door alarms.
- 7
Final inspection
The final confirms every earlier inspection passed and the finished pool is safe to use: equipment installed and running, electrical final complete, barrier complete, and drain covers installed. Common fail reasons: an earlier inspection never signed off, an incomplete barrier, missing drain covers or required signage, or site cleanup left undone. Many jurisdictions won't close the permit until the final passes.
How to pass pool inspections the first time
Inspections are one of the biggest sources of delay on a pool build. Shotcrete can't be scheduled until steel passes, and the deck can't be poured until bonding passes. Every failure pushes everything behind it — see how inspections fit in our pool construction schedule.
- Know the list before you dig. Read the required inspections on the permit and put each one on the schedule as its own step.
- Pre-inspect. Have the superintendent walk the checklist and photograph the work the day before every inspection.
- Keep the permit card and approved plans on site and easy to find.
- Make the site accessible. Locked gates, loose dogs, and a flooded excavation are all ways to lose an inspection slot.
- Write down every correction. If an inspection fails, record exactly what the inspector asked for, fix it, photograph the fix, and book the re-inspection. Note it in your daily log.
- Don't cover work that hasn't passed. Shooting a shell or pouring a deck before the inspection passes can mean tearing it out.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction
This checklist describes typical inspections and common requirements, not the code for your area. Cities and counties adopt different editions of the ISPSC, the NEC, and the building code, and many add local amendments. Always confirm inspection requirements, barrier rules, and electrical requirements with the building department that issued your permit.
Buying a home with a pool? What a pool inspection covers
If you're a homeowner or buyer looking at an existing pool rather than building one, a pool inspection is different. A general home inspector may only look at the pool briefly, so many buyers hire a pool-specific inspector or pool service company.
A typical existing-pool inspection looks at:
- The surface and structure: cracks, plaster or finish wear, loose tile, and damaged coping.
- Equipment: the age and condition of the pump, filter, heater, and automation, and any leaks at the pad.
- Leaks: unexplained water loss, wet spots, or a recommendation for a leak test.
- Electrical safety: GFCI protection, the pool light, and visible bonding.
- Drain covers: whether suction covers are present, intact, and not out of date.
- The barrier: fence height, gates that self-close and latch, and door alarms where required.
Tracking pool inspections in Ardovia
On paper, inspections live on the permit card, in the superintendent's head, and in a text thread with the inspector. In Ardovia's pool builder software, they live on the permit and on the job's schedule.
In the Permits module, you set up each jurisdiction once as a template: its coverage ZIP codes, review and expiration times, contacts, application forms, and required inspections. Each inspection is tied to a construction phase — before or after it — and can be set to hold up the schedule until it passes. Inspections can also follow another inspection, like a final electrical after the rough. When you create a permit from a job, the jurisdiction's inspections that apply to that job type are copied onto it and placed on the job's construction schedule.
Booking an inspection moves it onto the schedule on that date. Marking it Passed releases the work waiting on it. Failed requires a note on what has to change, keeps the dependent work on hold, and flags the item for attention. A Partial Pass lets the crew keep working while a re-inspection is still required. An Inspections tab lists every open inspection across your jobs, and if someone else pulls the permit you can still track the jurisdiction's inspections on your schedule. For your own pre-inspection walk, a checklist with required photos documents the steel or bonding before the inspector arrives.
Bell Residence
Travis County
PoolOkafor Estate
City of Austin
BuildingRamirez Backyard
Round Rock
ElectricalWhitfield Pool
Williamson Co.
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Free pool construction inspection checklist
No sign-up required. Free to use and edit for your business.
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Frequently asked questions
What inspections are required when building a pool?
Most in-ground gunite or shotcrete pools need a layout or setback inspection, a pre-gunite steel and bonding inspection, a plumbing pressure test, an electrical and equipotential bonding inspection, sometimes a pre-deck inspection, a barrier or fence inspection, and a final. The exact list and order depend on your jurisdiction, so check the inspections printed on your permit.
What is a pre-gunite inspection?
A pre-gunite inspection, also called a pre-shotcrete or steel inspection, happens after the rebar is set and before the shell is shot. The inspector checks that the steel size, spacing, and support match the engineered plan and that the bond wire is attached to the steel, light niches, and metal fittings.
Why do pools fail inspection?
Pools commonly fail inspection because of steel lying on the soil or missing bond connections, plumbing lines that don't hold pressure, perimeter bonding that is missing before the deck pour, missing GFCI protection, and barrier problems such as gates that don't self-latch, gaps under the fence, or missing door alarms.
How high does a pool fence need to be?
Many codes based on the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code require a pool barrier at least 48 inches high, with openings too small for a 4-inch sphere to pass through and gates that self-close and self-latch. Local codes can differ, so confirm the barrier requirements with your building department before you build.
What does a home inspector check on an existing pool?
An inspection of an existing pool usually covers the surface, tile, and coping, the pump, filter, heater, and automation, signs of leaks, electrical safety such as GFCI protection and the light, drain covers, and the fence and gates. Many buyers hire a pool-specific inspector because a general home inspection may cover the pool only briefly.
Who schedules pool inspections during construction?
The pool builder or the permit holder usually schedules inspections with the local building department as each phase is ready. Building each required inspection into the construction schedule as its own step, and pre-inspecting the work the day before, helps avoid failed inspections and delays.
Related
Permits & Inspections in Ardovia
Jurisdiction templates, permit packets, and inspections placed on the schedule.
Pool Construction Schedule
A phase-by-phase pool build timeline with durations and inspections.
Construction Punch List Template
The fields, a pool-build example, and closeout sign-off for punch lists.
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