CPCocktail PoolsFlorida
Before you build

Site requirements.

Space, slab, power, water. Everything your yard needs before a cocktail pool goes in — and everything we ask about before we quote.

Space around the pool

A cocktail pool is small, but the crew and the equipment still need room to work and the finished pool needs room to be used safely.

  • Plan on 3 ft of clear working space on all four sides of the pool footprint during the build.
  • At least one access path into the yard 36 in wide for a wheelbarrow; 60 in if we're bringing in a mini-skid.
  • 24 in minimum finished deck or walkway on the entry side, more if you want chairs.
  • No permanent structure, tree trunk, or septic component inside the excavation zone.
  • Overhead: clear of power service drops and low limbs above the work area.

Ground and slab

These pools carry real weight once they're full — water plus block plus finish. What's underneath matters more than most people expect.

  • Bare yard is the simplest case: we build the base as part of the install.
  • An existing concrete pad can often be used, but we need pad dimensions and slab thickness. 4 in unreinforced patio slab is not automatically a foundation.
  • Paver patio and artificial turf over concrete are both workable — we lift the finish in the footprint and reinstate the edge.
  • Soft or filled ground, recent trenching, or a high water table changes the base spec, so tell us if you know.

Electrical (we don't do this part)

Our equipment is specified to plug into an existing exterior GFCI-protected receptacle. We are not electricians and we do no electrical work on any job — turnkey or DIY.

  • You need a working exterior GFCI receptacle within reach of the equipment pad. Tell us where it is during the site check.
  • No outlet, a long run, a hardwired pump, a new circuit or bonding work? That's licensed electrical scope — hire a licensed electrician, who also pulls any permit that work requires.
  • Equipment must sit at least 5 ft from the water's edge unless separated by a permanent barrier.
  • Budget roughly $300–800 for a local electrician if a new exterior circuit is needed; longer runs cost more.
  • Anything gas- or heater-related is separate licensed trade work as well.

Water and drainage

Filling and backwashing both need a plan.

  • A hose bibb within reach of the pool is enough for filling; otherwise we schedule a water truck.
  • Somewhere legal to discharge backwash or drain water — check local rules before build day.
  • The pool deck should slope away from the house, not toward it.

Permits, HOA and setbacks

We build to the 24-inch above-ground exemption, so a pool permit generally isn't required in most Florida jurisdictions. We are not a permit service — anything your jurisdiction does require is yours to pull.

  • Permitting is administered locally. Confirm the rules for your address with your building department before build day.
  • Property-line and structure setbacks vary by city and county — check yours; we'll flag what we know for your area.
  • Electrical, plumbing tie-ins, gas and heaters are separate licensed trade work with their own permits.
  • A permit exemption is not HOA approval. We provide an HOA packet and, optionally, a plan set sealed by our on-staff Florida-licensed architect.
  • Exempt does not mean unengineered: every pool is built to a design standard authored by that same architect.

Not sure what you have?

Send us a couple of photos and rough measurements and we'll tell you exactly what your site needs — no guessing, no obligation.

Ask about your site →Design one first

Common questions

How much space do I need around a cocktail pool?
Plan on about 3 feet of clear working space on all sides during the build and at least 24 inches of finished deck on the entry side. Access into the yard should be at least 36 inches wide.
What are the electrical requirements for a cocktail pool?
The equipment is specified to plug into an existing exterior GFCI-protected receptacle within reach of the pad, with equipment set at least 5 feet from the water's edge. We do not perform electrical work. If you need a new circuit, a hardwired pump or bonding work, hire a licensed electrician — typically $300–800 — and they pull any permit that work requires.
Can I put a cocktail pool on my existing concrete pad?
Often yes. We need the pad dimensions and slab thickness and what the pad was originally poured for. A thin unreinforced patio slab may need reinforcement or a new base section.
Do I need a permit for a cocktail pool in Florida?
In-ground residential pools are permitted everywhere in Florida. Ours are built as above-ground vessels at or under 24 inches, which most Florida jurisdictions treat differently and generally do not require a pool permit for. Permitting is administered locally, we are not a permit service, and any permit your jurisdiction does require — including for electrical work — is the homeowner's to pull. Confirm with your building department.