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Swimming pool rules in Lexington, Massachusetts

Lexington, Middlesex County · Bylaws checked 2026-10-03 · Reviewed · 5 cited sections

Allowed with a permit

Yes, with a building permit from Lexington's Building Commissioner. A swimming pool must be at least 20 feet from every lot line (or farther, if the district's building setback is greater), measured to the water's edge, and must have screening at least 5 feet high around it.

PermitBuilding permit from the Building Commissioner [1]
Setback from lot lines20 feet, or the principal-building yard setback if greater [2]
How setback is measuredTo the edge of the water [2]
ScreeningAt least 5 feet high around the pool [3]
What counts as a swimming pool24 inches or deeper and 250 sq ft or larger [5]

Permit

These rules come from the Zoning Bylaw PDF incorporating amendments through Annual Town Meeting 2025; the only later zoning change we know of (2026) was described as technical corrections.

Under Lexington's Zoning Bylaw §6.1.1, the Building Commissioner may grant a building permit for a swimming pool accessory to a home [1], and no pool may be built without one [4]. State building code rules (barrier fencing, design by a registered professional for in-ground pools, electrical permits) apply on top of the zoning rules.

Setbacks

A swimming pool can't be built within 20 feet of a lot line, or within the required minimum yard setback for a principal building, whichever is greater. The setback is measured to the edge of the water [2]. In the RO, RS and RT districts the principal-building side and rear setbacks are 15 feet and the front setback is 30 feet (Table 2), so in practice a pool needs 20 feet from side and rear lines and 30 feet from the front.

Screening

The bylaw requires screening at least five feet high around the pool [3]. This is a zoning screening rule; the state pool barrier (at least 48 inches, self-closing and self-latching gates) is a separate building-code requirement, so plan a fence or screen that meets both.

Above-ground pools and hot tubs

The zoning definition of a swimming pool covers any pool 24 inches or deeper with a surface area of 250 square feet or more [5]. Smaller pools and most hot tubs fall outside that definition, so the 20-foot setback in §6.1.1 doesn't apply to them by its terms. They are still "structures" and can sit in a required yard only if their height is no greater than their distance from the lot line (§4.3.1). The state building code still governs permits and barriers (a lockable safety cover can substitute for a barrier on a spa).

Near wetlands or flood zones

Pools within 100 feet of a wetland or in the floodplain overlay may need Conservation Commission or floodplain review.

See how Lexington compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on swimming pools →

Next steps

  1. Have a plot plan drawn showing the pool's water edge at least 20 feet from all lot lines (30 feet from the front in RO/RS).
  2. Apply for a building permit at the Building Office (781-698-4530); in-ground pools need engineered plans under the state code.
  3. Include the 5-foot screening and a code-compliant pool barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates in your plans.
  4. Get separate electrical (and gas, for heaters) permits, and check with the Conservation Commission if you're near a wetland.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a swimming pool in Lexington, Massachusetts?
Yes, with a building permit from the Building Commissioner.
How far must a pool be from the property line in Lexington, Massachusetts?
At least 20 feet from every lot line, or farther if the district's building setback is greater, measured to the water's edge.
Does a pool need a fence or screening in Lexington, Massachusetts?
Yes. Zoning requires screening at least 5 feet high around the pool, and your plans should include a code-compliant pool barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates.

Massachusetts building code rules for pools

Under the State Building Code (780 CMR, 10th edition), residential pools, spas and hot tubs must meet the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) as adopted in Massachusetts.

Permits:

  • A building permit is needed for any pool except prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep.
  • Plans for in-ground pools must be prepared by a registered design professional (an engineer or architect).
  • Wiring must meet the Massachusetts Electrical Code (527 CMR 12.00), and gas pool heaters must meet the state plumbing and gas code (248 CMR).

Barrier (fence) requirements (ISPSC §305):

  • The barrier must be at least 48 inches high, measured on the side away from the pool.
  • The gap under the barrier can be no more than 2 inches over grass or gravel, or 4 inches over concrete.
  • Pedestrian gates must open outward away from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and be able to take a lock.
  • If a house wall forms part of the barrier, doors and low windows opening to the pool need an audible alarm (or another listed option).
  • In-ground pool construction sites need temporary fencing at least 4 feet high from excavation until the permanent barrier is up.
  • Spas and hot tubs with a lockable safety cover meeting ASTM F1346, and pools with a powered safety cover meeting that standard, are exempt from the barrier rules.

Local zoning still controls pool setbacks, and wetlands rules may apply near water.

State sources: 780 CMR 10th ed., Residential Chapter 1 (R101.4.15 ISPSC adoption; R105.2; R107.1) · 780 CMR 10th ed., Residential Chapter 3 (R327 pools and spas) · 780 CMR 10th ed., Chapter 31 (3109 swimming pools) · BBRS, Tenth edition of the MA State Building Code 780 · 2021 ISPSC Chapter 3 (Massachusetts viewer, UpCodes)

What the bylaw says

Exact text from Lexington's published bylaws. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

  1. §6.1.1 Swimming Pools and Racquet Courts, Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135 (incorporating amendments through Annual Town Meeting 2025), p. 48
    6.1.1 Swimming Pools and Racquet Courts. The Building Commissioner may grant a building permit for a swimming pool and the SPGA may grant a special permit for the construction of a racquet court, accessory to a residential use.
  2. §6.1.1(1), Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135 (incorporating amendments through Annual Town Meeting 2025), p. 48
    1. No racquet court shall be constructed within 15 feet, and no swimming pool shall be constructed within 20 feet, of a lot line or within the required minimum yard setback for a principal building, whichever is greater. The setback of the swimming pool shall be measured to the edge of the water in the pool; the setback of the racquet court shall be measured to the fence enclosing the court.
  3. §6.1.1(2), Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135 (incorporating amendments through Annual Town Meeting 2025), p. 48
    2. Screening at least five feet high shall be provided around the pool or court.
  4. §6.1.1(4), Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135 (incorporating amendments through Annual Town Meeting 2025), p. 48
    4. No swimming pool or racquet court shall be constructed without the issuance of a building permit.
  5. §10 Definitions, Swimming Pool, Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135 (incorporating amendments through Annual Town Meeting 2025), p. 126
    Any pool having a depth of 24 inches or greater and a surface area of 250 square feet or greater.
This page summarizes Lexington's posted bylaws as of 2026-10-03. Bylaws are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Building Office / Zoning (Department of Land Use, Housing and Development), 1625 Massachusetts Avenue (781-698-4530 (Zoning 781-698-4534)) before you build. Spot an error?