Cobb County announced in a news release that contractor locks and parcel locks have been placed on about 200 properties with expired pool permits. The locks mean neither the contractor nor the homeowner can get future permits in Cobb County until the lock is cleared.

Cobb County Communications Director Ross Cavitt told the Courier via email that while the pools were in a mix of single-family and multi-family residential properties, the majority were at single-family residences.

The Cobb County Development and Inspections Division placed the locks.

Before the violation notices were issued, a notice was placed on the Cobb County website on May 20, 2024, and pool contractors were phoned about the expirations.

Then, on Monday, August 5, the Inspections Division sent written violation notices to all homeowners with expired pool permits connected to their parcels.

The Cobb Community Development website describes the reason for pool inspections as follows:

Swimming pools pose a unique mix of both potential health and safety dangers.  Cobb County’s Development and Inspections Division permits and inspects all new construction and remodel Commercial Pools and all Residential Pools to ensure all pools and spas are built to code and constructed in a safe manner.

Cobb & Douglas Public Health annually inspects public swimming pools (such as HOA or hotel swimming pools/spas) to ensure chemical levels are sufficient to protect bathers from most harmful organisms as well as ensure adequate safety equipment is present. Visit cobbanddouglaspublichealth.com for detailed information on annual public swimming pool procedures and requirements.

According to the news release, homeowners have two options to close these permits and clear the parcel lock on their property:

1. Contact the original pool contractor and request they renew the permits and complete all missing inspections.
2. If the pool contractor is unavailable or out of business, homeowners may call the Cobb County Development and Inspections Division to request that the permit be renewed and the permit fee waived so they can schedule missing inspections. A licensed pool contractor must pull a new permit if any inspection fails and/or additional work is required to complete the pool. The parcel lock will remain in place until all inspections are completed and the permit is closed.

“Pool contractors are responsible to their clients and the community to permit their jobs properly,” said Kevin Gobble, Cobb’s Chief Building Official. “All inspections conducted by the Cobb County building department are conducted to ensure the health and safety of everyone enjoying a pool.”

According to the news release:

Information about pool permits can be found at https://www.cobbcounty.org/community-development/building-development/pools. Homeowners who have received a violation notice may call the Development and Inspections Division at 770-528-2060.