"How long does it take to build a pool?"
Plan for the paperwork as well as the construction. Inside Georgetown city limits, a pool deeper than 24 inches needs a city swimming pool permit, and since August 1, 2024 the city requires every pool to be engineered. The submittal includes an official site survey showing property lines, impervious cover, the proposed pool, fencing and equipment, plus an impervious cover worksheet and a pool barrier agreement. Pools in the ETJ or unincorporated county don't need the city pool permit, though a plumbing permit applies in the ETJ if the pool has an autofill.
Texas law requires that you or your contractor notify Texas 811 at least two business days before digging. After that come excavation, the shell, plumbing and electrical, decking, the barrier and start-up. Fiberglass is usually the fastest to install; concrete takes the longest because it is formed and cured on site.
"What if they hit rock?" and "Will clay crack my pool?"
Georgetown sits along the Balcones Escarpment, where Hill Country limestone to the west meets Blackland Prairie clay to the east, so two lots across town can dig very differently. The Georgetown soil series, whose USDA reference site is about a mile from the Williamson County Courthouse, is a dense clay over hard limestone bedrock found roughly 20 to 40 inches down. Rock can mean heavier excavation equipment; clay calls for careful drainage, backfill and deck design. That is part of why the city now requires engineered pools.
Ask each builder whether they have dug in your neighborhood, how they handle rock, and how the engineering accounts for your soil.
"Will my plat even allow a pool?"
This trips up a lot of Georgetown homeowners. Impervious cover limits are often set on your recorded subdivision plat. The city counts a pool's water surface as pervious, but the coping, apron, patio and decking all count toward impervious cover. If your plat sets a limit, a variance may not be available, so check the plat before falling in love with a big deck. Homes on the Edwards Aquifer recharge or contributing zones may also be subject to TCEQ Edwards Aquifer rules.
"How close to the property line can it go?"
Under the city's Unified Development Code, a residential pool can sit in the side or rear yard but must be at least three feet from side and rear property lines. HOA rules and easements on your plat can add more limits.
"Do I need a fence or alarms?"
Yes. The city says a fence, wall or barrier must completely surround the pool, tract or lot, and every door with direct access to the pool must have an alarm that sounds when the door opens. Ask your builder to include the barrier and door alarms in the plan.
Fiberglass vs. concrete at a glance
Both are common in Georgetown. Ask each builder which suits your lot and why.
| Fiberglass | Concrete (gunite/shotcrete) | |
|---|---|---|
| Shapes and sizes | Set by factory molds | Fully custom |
| Build time | Usually faster | Usually longer |
| Rocky or tight lots | Needs crane access and an excavation that fits the shell | Can be shaped around site limits |
| Long-term upkeep | Gelcoat care | Periodic resurfacing of the finish |
We never post one-size-fits-all prices. Ask for a free, itemized quote.
Words to use when you call
No pool jargon needed. Tell the builder things like:
- "We're in Georgetown city limits" (or "we're in the county").
- "Our backyard is rocky."
- "We want a big patio around the pool."
- "The HOA has rules about fences and equipment."
- "We want to be swimming by next summer."
Get your free, exact quote
We don't post prices because every project is different. Tell us about yours and a local pro will give you an exact number, free and with no obligation.
Get my free, exact quote Or call (737) 345-4236
Sources checked 2026-11-02: City of Georgetown: Swimming pool and spa permit; One-Call Board of Texas: How it works; TCEQ: Edwards Aquifer, private residences; USDA NRCS: Official series description, Georgetown soil; Balcones Escarpment geomorphology.