Incorporated in 1878, with 69,657 residents in 2020
Pool Contractors in Gaithersburg, MD
Inground pools, spas and decks planned around Gaithersburg lot sizes, HOA covenants and the question of who issues your permit.
- Free on-site design consultations
- Written, itemized quotes before any digging
- Permit drawings and site plans prepared for DPS review
Building a Backyard Pool Inside a Real City
Pool contractors in Gaithersburg have one question to settle before anything else: is the house inside city limits or just outside them? Gaithersburg is not an unincorporated census-designated place like most of its neighbors. It was incorporated as the Town of Gaithersburg on April 5, 1878 and became a city in 1968, so it has its own government. Next door, the NIST campus west of I-270 sits on unincorporated county land even though most people think of it as part of the city. A Gaithersburg mailing address does not always mean the city has jurisdiction, so we check your parcel first and confirm with the right office which permit path your pool follows.
Why the address check comes first
Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has laid out a clear process for pools in the county: a building permit for the pool itself, a separate electrical permit pulled by an electrician, a site plan that shows setbacks, and a barrier around the water. A city government can add its own steps or run the review itself. We do not guess. Before we draw a final layout, we confirm with the city or county which office reviews the plan, which inspections apply, and whether anything extra is needed. That way a design you like does not stall at the counter.
Planned neighborhoods and covenants
Much of Gaithersburg was built with a plan in hand. Kentlands, started in 1988 on the former Kentlands Farm, was one of the first attempts to build a community using Traditional Neighborhood Design, with Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk brought in by the developer. It mixes town houses and many other types of homes with live-work buildings on Main Street, with streets and community pools within walking distance. Kentlands and its sister community, Lakelands, are home to more than 8,000 residents. In planned neighborhoods like these, an architectural review committee may want to see the pool, fence, equipment pad and lighting before work begins. We prepare drawings you can submit along with your application.
Pools that suit Gaithersburg lots
Not every yard here can hold a 40-foot lap pool, and not every owner wants one. What we build most often in compact yards:
- Fiberglass pools: a factory-made shell that installs quickly and fits narrow side yards when access allows
- Gunite and concrete pools: a custom shape that can follow an odd lot line or a slope
- Plunge pools and spas: a smaller body of water for cooling off, with a lockable spa cover
- Pool decks and patios: pavers or concrete that tie the pool to the back door
- Renovation and resurfacing: new finish, tile and coping for an existing pool
A mixed housing market
About half of Gaithersburg homes, 50.8%, are owner-occupied, according to Census estimates for 2020 to 2024. The other half are rentals, many in apartment communities. For the owners, that means many pool projects here are on townhouse rows or single-family lots in established subdivisions rather than large estates. Household sizes average 2.69 people, and 83.7% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier. Families who plan to stay are the ones who tend to call us.
Before the excavator arrives
Maryland's Miss Utility system must be contacted at least 3 full business days and no more than 12 business days before anyone digs. Older parts of the city, around the station the B&O built in 1873, can have service lines in places a newer subdivision would not. We schedule the locate, mark the dig area and keep the excavation inside it.
How we quote
Call (301) 579-8750 or send photos and a plat if you have one. We walk the yard, measure the setbacks, look at access for equipment and give you a written quote that lists the pool, decking, barrier and equipment line by line.
Gaithersburg Facts That Shape a Pool Project
- An incorporated city, not a CDP. Gaithersburg was incorporated as a town on April 5, 1878 and became a city in 1968. NIST's headquarters just west of I-270 is on unincorporated county land, so neighboring parcels can fall under different governments.
- Kentlands and Lakelands. Kentlands began in 1988 on the former Kentlands farm as one of the first attempts at a Traditional Neighborhood Design community. With sister community Lakelands it houses more than 8,000 residents, mostly under community design rules.
- Half owners, half renters. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put the owner-occupied housing rate at 50.8%, with 2.69 persons per household and 83.7% of residents living in the same house as one year earlier.
- Miss Utility timing. Maryland requires a Miss Utility locate request at least 3 full business days and no more than 12 business days before excavation. Requests can be made by calling 811 or submitting a ticket online.
Our Services in Gaithersburg, MD
Gaithersburg Questions
Does the City of Gaithersburg or Montgomery County review my pool permit?
It depends on whether your parcel is inside city limits. Gaithersburg is an incorporated city, and some land with a Gaithersburg address, like the NIST campus, is unincorporated county territory. We confirm your parcel's jurisdiction and the office that reviews the plan before we finalize a design.
Can I put a pool in a Kentlands or Lakelands backyard?
Some lots can fit a compact pool or spa, and some cannot once setbacks and the barrier are drawn in. Planned neighborhoods also have design review. We measure the yard, sketch what fits, and give you drawings for the HOA submission.
Is a fiberglass pool a good fit for a smaller Gaithersburg yard?
Often, if a crane or truck can reach the yard. Fiberglass shells come in set sizes, so we check access and setbacks first. Where access is tight, a gunite pool built in place can be the better choice.
How far is Gaithersburg from where you are based?
We are based in Bethesda, and Gaithersburg is a straight run up I-270 or Route 355. We serve the whole city and the neighborhoods just outside it.
Free Estimates in Gaithersburg, MD
Free written pool estimates in Gaithersburg.
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