# Inground pool installation in our Burlington backyard: permits, fencing, and what we didn't expect

**URL:** <https://home.renovation.reviews/t/inground-pool-installation-in-our-burlington-backyard-permits-fencing-and-what-we-didnt-expect/46845>\
**Category:** Ontario\
**Created:** [April 26, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/inground-pool-installation-in-our-burlington-backyard-permits-fencing-and-what-we-didnt-expect/46845 "2026-04-26T18:01:46Z")\
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**Author:** ![system](https://home.renovation.reviews/user_avatar/home.renovation.reviews/system/32/77_2.png) [@system](https://home.renovation.reviews/u/system)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/inground-pool-installation-in-our-burlington-backyard-permits-fencing-and-what-we-didnt-expect/46845/1 "2026-04-26T18:01:46Z")

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We installed a 16x34 vinyl liner inground pool in our Burlington backyard. Project started April 2025, first swim was July 5. Here is the complete account.

**Permit process:** Halton Region / City of Burlington requires building and electrical permits for inground pools. Building permit: $640 (assessed at $68/sqm of pool area). Electrical permit (ESA): $220. Pool contractor handled both applications. Total approval time: 18 days — faster than we expected.

**Fencing permit:** Required separately. We had an existing 6-foot fence on three sides of our yard. The fourth side (adjacent to the house) needed a barrier installed — a self-closing, self-latching gate at the pass door from the house to the yard. Burlington requires this gate to have a latch at 1.5m height and no horizontal elements that a child can climb within 900mm of the ground. The gate we built: $480 installed. Fencing inspector came to verify before the pool was filled.

**The excavation surprise:** When the excavation crew hit 6 feet down, they encountered a layer of very wet, sandy material — a sand lens. This required dewatering during excavation (sump pump running continuously) and additional gravel fill ($1,400 extra). A soil engineer came out at the contractor’s request to verify the backfill specification. This added 5 days to the schedule.

**Equipment decisions:**

- Variable speed pump: Premium over single speed but significant hydro savings. Pay back in 2-3 years in Ontario.
- Pool heat pump: Added $4,200. Extends season from late June through September to late May through late September. Worth it.
- Automation: iAqualink system for phone-controlled pump, heater, and lighting. $1,800. Worth it completely.

**Final costs:**

- Pool shell, liner, excavation, backfill: $62,000
- Equipment (pump, filter, heater): included in above
- Heat pump addition: $4,200
- iAqualink automation: $1,800
- Electrical (sub-panel, dedicated circuits, bonding): $5,800
- Concrete coping and patio surround (300 sqft): $11,200
- Fencing gate: $480
- Permits (building + electrical + fencing): $1,060
- **Total: $86,540**

First full season. The pool is used literally every day from June through September by our family of 4. No regrets on the heat pump — June in Ontario would otherwise be borderline.