Understanding the valleyLimits on new pools

The surface area limit on new pools

If you are planning a new pool, you may already be thinking about the shape, the swimming area and whether an attached spa will fit the backyard. In Southern Nevada, there is a local rule to account for before the design is finalized. The Las Vegas Valley Water District Service Rules limit new single-family pools, spas and water features permitted after September 1, 2022, to 600 square feet of combined surface area.

The limit applies to the combined surface area of the pool, spa and water features, rather than treating each element as a separate allowance. A pool and an attached spa therefore need to be considered together when planning the layout. There is also a separate restriction: outdoor ornamental water features over 10 square feet are not allowed when permitted since October 4, 2022.

The role of evaporation in the desert

Water use is another practical consideration when deciding how much pool surface area you need. The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates that an average in-ground pool loses 48.6 gallons per square foot each year through evaporation. For a typical 470 square foot pool in Southern Nevada, that can amount to as much as 22,842 gallons annually. A pool cover cuts evaporation by about 90 percent.

Those figures give homeowners a useful way to think about pool size before construction starts. A larger water surface can mean more water lost over the course of a year, so it is worth considering how much swimming space you will actually use. The goal is to plan a pool that suits the property while respecting the local surface area limit.

Planning a backyard design

Good planning starts by looking at the pool, spa and any proposed water features as one overall design. If an attached spa is important to you, its surface area needs to be included when working out the pool dimensions. A fountain or decorative feature should also be discussed early, particularly if it is subject to the separate 10 square foot restriction.

Before construction, the project needs design and engineering work, along with the required city or county permits. Sorting out the dimensions during planning gives the project team a clear basis for preparing the documents and moving through the permitting process. Do not assume that a design fits the rule simply because the main swimming area is under 600 square feet.

How Kingfisher Pool & Spa helps with new pools

We offer small to medium custom pool construction. Our process includes consultation, design, engineering, permits through the city or county, construction, inspections, startup and handoff. We pull the permit as part of the project process.

Consultations for new pools are free. Before work begins, you receive a written proposal describing the project. Financing is available for new pools, subject to credit approval through a third-party lender. Kingfisher holds Nevada contractor license 0000000, with classifications A-10 and A-10e, and carries insurance.

At startup, the team reassembles and starts the equipment, inspects the system, cleans and balances the water. For a new plaster finish, startup chemistry follows the plaster maker’s schedule. If you are considering a pool and spa together, discuss both dimensions during the consultation so the proposed design can account for the combined surface area requirements from the beginning.