A Victorian commuter suburb with a protected canopy
Pool Contractors in Takoma Park, MD
Plunge pools, spas and small inground pools designed to work around big trees and older lot lines.
- Free on-site design consultations
- Written, itemized quotes before any digging
- Permit drawings and site plans prepared for DPS review
Fitting a Pool Under Takoma Park's Trees
Pool contractors in Takoma Park have to start with the trees. The city's hardwood canopy is protected by local ordinance, and residents need a permit or waiver from the city arborist before removing a tree on their property with a diameter of 7 5/8 inches or greater. A pool almost always involves excavation near roots, so in this city the tree conversation comes before the shape, the finish or the deck material.
Start with a tree survey, not a brochure
On our first visit we note every sizable tree on and near the pool area, including the neighbor's trees whose roots cross the line. From there, options usually fall into three groups:
- Design around them. Shift or shrink the pool so excavation stays clear of major root zones.
- Ask the city. If a tree has to come down, the homeowner applies to the city arborist for a permit or waiver first.
- Consider a spa instead. A freestanding hot tub on a pad can deliver much of the use with far less digging.
County rules can stack on top: Montgomery County's Tree Canopy Law applies when a project needs a sediment control permit, and the county notes that many swimming pools require one.
Narrow lots from the 1880s
Takoma Park was founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890 as one of the first planned Victorian commuter suburbs. Most original lots measured 50 by 200 feet. Long, narrow yards like that leave limited side access, which affects how an excavator gets in and how dirt gets out. Long, narrow pool shapes, lap pools and plunge pools tend to suit these lots, and gunite is often the more practical choice because it is formed on site rather than delivered as a large shell.
Historic streets
Much of old town Takoma Park is in the Takoma Park Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. If your house is in that area, ask the city and county early whether any historic review applies to the visible parts of the project, especially the pool fence and any deck or pergola that shows from the street.
The county permit side
The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services handles pool building permits, with a separate electrical permit pulled by an electrician and a site plan showing setbacks. The barrier is a non-climbable 60-inch fence with self-latching gates. On small Takoma Park lots, the back of the house often forms part of the barrier, and DPS then requires alarms on doors that open directly onto the pool area unless you install an automatic pool cover. We plan for that from the start.
Near Sligo Creek
Sligo Creek and its trail cut a deep valley through the city, and the county has run stormwater and stream restoration projects in that watershed since 1989. When the pool needs draining or backwashing, county guidelines call for chlorine at or below 0.1 ppm and a slow release onto land, because storm drains lead directly to streams. Call (301) 579-8750 or use
for a written quote.What Shapes a Takoma Park Pool Project
- City tree permit threshold. Takoma Park residents need a permit or waiver from the city arborist before cutting any tree on their property with a diameter of 7 5/8 inches or greater, under the city's urban forest ordinance.
- Original 50-by-200-foot lots. Founded in 1883 and incorporated April 3, 1890, Takoma Park was laid out with lots that mostly measured 50 by 200 feet, giving many homes long, narrow yards with tight side access.
- A city with many renters. Census ACS 2020 to 2024 estimates put Takoma Park's owner-occupancy rate at 54.2%, with 2.52 people per household. Owners planning a pool should confirm property lines and easements carefully on dense blocks.
- Sligo Creek watershed. Sligo Creek runs 9.1 miles to the Anacostia's Northwest Branch. Montgomery County began stormwater management and stream restoration projects in its watershed in 1989.
Our Services in Takoma Park, MD
Takoma Park Questions
Will I need the city arborist's approval for my Takoma Park pool?
You will if a tree on your property with a diameter of 7 5/8 inches or more has to be removed. We flag trees near the dig on the first visit so you can talk to the city arborist before the design is final.
Is a plunge pool a good fit for a Takoma Park yard?
Often. Plunge pools and narrow lap pools suit long, slim lots and keep excavation smaller, which helps around roots. They still need a county permit, a 60-inch barrier and the same inspections as a larger pool.
My house is in the historic district. Can I still add a pool?
Backyard pools are common in older neighborhoods, but visible elements like the fence can draw attention. Ask the city and county early whether any historic review applies to your address, and we will design the fence to suit it.
Can a hot tub go in without a 60-inch fence?
Under DPS rules, spas and hot tubs do not need the 60-inch barrier but must have a lockable cover. That makes a spa a practical choice where a full pool would crowd the trees.
Free Estimates in Takoma Park, MD
Free tree-aware pool consultations in Takoma Park.
Pool Contractors Near Takoma Park
- Pool Contractors in Bethesda, MD
- Pool Contractors in Chevy Chase, MD
- Pool Contractors in Potomac, MD
- Pool Contractors in Rockville, MD
- Pool Contractors in Kensington, MD
- Pool Contractors in Silver Spring, MD
- Pool Contractors in Gaithersburg, MD
- Pool Contractors in North Bethesda, MD
- Pool Contractors in Olney, MD
- Pool Contractors in Darnestown, MD
- Pool Contractors in Germantown, MD
- Pool Contractors in Wheaton, MD
- Pool Contractors in Clarksburg, MD
- Pool Contractors in Poolesville, MD
- Pool Contractors in Garrett Park, MD
- Pool Contractors in Damascus, MD
- Pool Contractors in Cabin John, MD