October 13, 2026
Pinellas Pool Remodel Permits: Which Office, by ZIP Code
Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Seminole, Largo, St. Pete: which office issues a pool remodel permit, and why the ZIP won't tell you.
Pool Pros resources
Builder-level guides on design, materials, and the construction details that decide how long a pool actually lasts.
Articles
October 11, 2026
No-See-Um Mesh vs Standard Pool Screen: What You Trade
No-see-um mesh vs standard pool screen: what 20x20 and 18x14 mean, which one stops biting midges, and why Florida's wind load table treats them differently.
October 9, 2026
Adding a Pool to a New Wesley Chapel or Land O' Lakes Home
A pool at a new Wesley Chapel or Land O' Lakes home is a Pasco County permit, even with a Zephyrhills-routed ZIP. What the new lot needs, and the timeline.
October 7, 2026
Does a Screen Enclosure Keep Alligators Out?
A screen enclosure is insect screen on an aluminum frame, built for wind, not wildlife. What FWC and UF/IFAS say actually keeps alligators off a pool deck.
October 5, 2026
San Antonio, Saint Leo and Dade City: Who Permits a Pool?
Dade City issues pool permits for San Antonio and Saint Leo after the right city approves, and Lake Jovita, with a Dade City address, is Pasco County's.
October 3, 2026
Does a Storm-Damaged Pool Need a New Permit?
Rescreening, a new pump, a cage frame or a fence: which storm repairs to a Tampa Bay pool need a permit, how the counties differ and what flood zones change.
October 1, 2026
Lutz and Odessa Pool Permits: Hillsborough or Pasco?
Lutz and Odessa sit on both sides of the Hillsborough and Pasco line, and their ZIP codes cross it. The parcel, not the ZIP, decides who permits a pool.
September 29, 2026
Storm Surge vs Rainfall Flooding: What Each Does to a Pool
Surge is seawater with waves, debris and scour. Rain flooding is fresh water and saturated ground. What each does to a Tampa Bay pool and what AE and VE mean.
September 27, 2026
Pools in Northeast St. Pete: Snell Isle and Venetian Isles
Snell Isle and Venetian Isles pools are City of St. Petersburg permits on low bayfront lots Helene flooded in 2024. Two Pool Pros builds, spec by spec.
September 25, 2026
Rescreening a Pool Cage After a Storm: Check the Frame
Rescreening a pool cage after a storm only works if the frame survived. What to check, what a full-scale wind test found and when Tampa Bay needs a permit.
September 23, 2026
Pool Equipment After a Week Without Power: How to Restart
Before you flip the pool breakers after a long outage: check the pad for water, test the GFCI, prime the pump, then work through filter, salt cell and heater.
September 21, 2026
Green Pool After a Power Outage: How to Clear It
No pump means no filtering, no salt-cell chlorine and stagnant water. Why a Florida pool goes green during an outage, and the order to clear it.
September 19, 2026
After a Storm: What to Check Before Anyone Swims
After a hurricane, check a pool in order: the area, the equipment pad and wiring, floodwater and debris, the cage and barrier, and only then the water.
September 17, 2026
Lovebug Season and Your Pool: When It Hits, What Helps
UF/IFAS puts Florida's lovebug flights in April-May and August-September. What the swarms do to a Tampa Bay pool, and why a screen enclosure helps.
September 15, 2026
High Water Table in Pinellas: What It Changes About Your Pool
Groundwater near the surface changes how a pool is dug, what the code requires in the floor, and why the pool must never be emptied casually.
September 13, 2026
Should You Drain Your Pool Before a Hurricane?
No. An empty pool floats on Florida groundwater. What UF/IFAS Extension actually recommends before a storm — and why the furniture trick is a mistake.
September 11, 2026
Pool Cage Wind Ratings in Tampa Bay: What the Code Actually Assumes
Your cage's frame and its screen are engineered to different expectations. The Florida Building Code lets the engineer assume the screen isn't there.
September 9, 2026
Oak Pollen Season and Your Pool: Why It Lasts So Long Here
Florida has 11 oak species and they don't pollinate together. Laurel oak starts, live oak follows — which is why the yellow film outlasts your patience.
September 7, 2026
Frogs in the Pool: Which Frog It Is, and Why That Matters
The frog in your skimmer is probably an invasive Cuban treefrog. UF/IFAS says a well-maintained pool is the actual control — here's why.
September 5, 2026
Florida Room, Lanai or Screen Enclosure: What the Words Actually Mean
Two of those three words are defined in the Florida Building Code. One isn't. What the code's Category I–V sunroom ladder decides about your project.
September 3, 2026
Alligators and Swimming Pools: What FWC Actually Does About It
There is a specific FWC rule for an alligator in your pool, and it is not the one the four-foot threshold implies. Who to call and what happens next.
September 1, 2026
What Summer Rain Actually Does to Your Pool Chemistry
Rain is acidic — EPA puts normal rain near pH 5.6. But acid is not what a Florida wet season really costs you. Dilution is.
August 30, 2026
Well Water and Iron Staining: Test Before You Fill, Not After
Iron is invisible in a glass of well water and permanent on a new pool finish. EPA's staining threshold is 0.3 mg/L — well below anything you'd taste.
August 24, 2026
Gopher Tortoise Burrows: The Permit That Can Stop a Pool Build Before It Starts
A gopher tortoise burrow within 25 feet of your pool excavation needs an FWC relocation permit first. What that means for a Tampa Bay backyard.
August 22, 2026
Florida's Pool Barrier Law: What It Actually Requires of a New Pool
A new Florida pool must have at least one of five safety features to pass final inspection. What section 515.27 lists, and what the barrier itself must do.
August 22, 2026
Four-Sided Isolation Fence or the House as the Fourth Wall?
Both can satisfy Florida's pool safety law. They are not equally safe, and the CPSC says so plainly. What each choice means for a Tampa Bay backyard.
August 17, 2026
Filling a New Pool During a Water Shortage: What the District's Rules Actually Say
Tampa Bay is under a Modified Phase III Extreme Water Shortage. The order restricts irrigation hard — and says almost nothing about filling a pool.
May 20, 2026
Structural Upgrades That Make or Break a Pool: What Most Builders Overlook
Waterproofing behind tile, epoxy grout, and correctly treated cold joints — the structural details that determine a pool's long-term durability.
April 22, 2026
Concrete vs. Fiberglass Pools: An Honest Comparison from a Builder Who's Maintained Both
A concrete pool builder who spent years maintaining both concrete and fiberglass pools compares installation, water chemistry, durability, and value.
April 8, 2026
Pool Remodeling 101: What Is Delamination — and Why It Matters
What delamination means in pool resurfacing, why skipping it risks your remodel, and the two methods builders use to do it right.
February 10, 2026
Why Pools Fail: Efflorescence, Cure Time, and the Details Most Builders Rush
Why pools develop white staining and cracking years after construction — the role of concrete cure time, tile waterproofing, and grout choice.
February 3, 2026
Building a Pool in Lake Jovita: Design Ideas, HOA Approval, and What Homeowners Should Know
What to know before building a custom pool in Lake Jovita: popular design features, the HOA approval process, and typical construction timelines.
November 7, 2025
Pool Construction Secrets: Features Builders Forget to Mention (But You Need to Know)
Six pool construction details many builders skip explaining — vanishing edges, banding, floating steps, step height, spa edges, and jet placement.
September 3, 2025
The Perfect Poolside Stroll: Choosing the Decking of Your Dreams
Comparing pool deck options for the Tampa Bay area — concrete pavers, Artistic Pavers, natural stone, and porcelain — on style, heat, and upkeep.
September 1, 2025
The Secret to a Stunning Pool: Choosing Your Interior Finish
How to choose a pool interior finish — quartz vs. pebble, color effects on water tone, texture options, and the glass bead upgrade.
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