New pools that fit established Tempe lots, plus remodels and resurfacing for the pools already there, permitted through the City of Tempe and built by a licensed Arizona pool contractor.
If you are looking for a pool builder in Tempe, you are probably not starting with an empty dirt lot. Tempe is landlocked, bordered by Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and Chandler, and almost all of it is already built. Most single-family neighborhoods went up decades ago, so the typical Tempe project is one of two things: fitting a new pool into a backyard that already has walls, trees, a patio and an air conditioner in the side yard, or bringing an older pool back to life with new plaster, tile, coping and equipment.
Arizona Pool Builders does both. As a licensed pool builder Tempe homeowners can verify with the state, we design compact pools and plunge pools for smaller lots, remodel and resurface original-era pools, and plan the deck, shade and lighting around them. What makes Tempe different from the newer suburbs is not the soil or the weather. It is access, mature landscaping, older utilities and, in a few neighborhoods, historic-district review. Those are the things we plan for before anyone signs a contract.
We work across the whole city: the older neighborhoods around ASU and downtown, The Lakes and the Lakeshore Drive area, Shalimar and the McClintock corridor, the neighborhoods around Kiwanis Park, and South Tempe communities such as Warner Ranch. Below is what we build here, how City of Tempe permits work, how we deal with tight Tempe yards, what pricing looks like, and how to get started.
Many Tempe backyards are shallower than what you find in Buckeye or Queen Creek, and they already contain things worth keeping: a covered patio, a citrus tree, a mature shade tree, a block wall that has stood for forty years. A good Tempe design starts with what stays. From there we usually recommend a geometric or softly rounded pool that leaves a usable deck on at least two sides, a sun shelf instead of a long set of steps, and equipment placed where it can be serviced without blocking the side yard. A modest footprint with a wide tanning ledge often feels larger than a bigger pool squeezed against the walls. Our pool shapes for smaller Arizona backyards and backyard-to-pool size guide show layouts that work on compact lots.
On the tightest Tempe lots, a plunge pool or a compact pool with a raised spa can give you year-round use without giving up the whole yard. A spa that spills into a small pool is useful in Tempe because winter evenings are cool enough to enjoy hot water, and summer days are hot enough that a few hundred square feet of water is all most couples need. We size the heater for how often you plan to use the spa; our pool heater types guide compares gas, heat pump and solar options.
A large share of Tempe homes already have a pool, and many of those pools are original or close to it. If the shell is structurally sound, a pool remodel is often better value than starting over: new interior finish, waterline tile, coping, updated equipment, and sometimes a new tanning ledge or a converted spa. We drain, inspect and pressure-test before we commit to a scope, because older pools can hide cracked fittings or tired plumbing. If you are weighing finishes, read pebble vs. plaster in Arizona heat and when to resurface an Arizona pool. For a deeper look at remodel scopes, see our pool remodeling guide.
Older pools were built under older rules. A remodel is the right moment to update barriers and gates, add door alarms, replace single main drains and outdated suction fittings, and bring bonding and lighting up to the code in force today. Many owners also switch to variable-speed pumps, add automation (automation systems compared) or move to salt (converting a chlorine pool to salt).
In a compact yard, the pool, deck, shade and seating have to be designed as one space. We coordinate decking (deck options compared), shade over the lounge area (pergolas, ramadas and sails) and planting that will not drop leaves into the water all year (pool landscaping ideas).
We build and remodel pools anywhere inside Tempe city limits. These are some of the areas we hear from most and what tends to shape a project in each. Every property is different, so treat these as general notes.
The city’s oldest single-family areas, including Maple-Ash and the Roosevelt Addition, Borden Homes and University Park historic districts. Small lots, alleys in places and very mature trees.
Homes built around man-made lakes. Many already have pools due for renovation, and waterfront lots raise questions about rear access, view fencing and barriers.
Established neighborhoods with original-era pools. Typical work is resurfacing, tile and coping, equipment replacement and barrier updates.
Mid-size lots with a mix of original pools and pool-ready yards. Side-yard width and existing trees usually decide the dig plan.
Mid-century homes, many renovated. Expect older electrical service, overhead lines in some backyards and limited equipment routes.
Newer homes with larger yards and wider side yards, so access is easier. HOA architectural review is common here.
Not sure whether your street is in a designated historic district or covered by an HOA? We check both during the first visit, and the city’s planning staff can confirm zoning for any address.
Pools in Tempe are permitted and inspected by the City, through the Building Safety Division of Community Development, not by Maricopa County. As your builder, we prepare the plans, submit them, respond to review comments and schedule inspections.
We do not publish permit fees or review times because they change; the city posts both. Remodels can be simpler to permit than new pools, but new equipment circuits, gas to a heater, a new spa, a changed shell or a new barrier usually mean permits and inspections. We confirm the scope with the Permit Center before work starts.
Arizona’s pool enclosure law, A.R.S. 36-1681, covers pools at least 18 inches deep and more than 8 feet wide, with an exemption for homes where every resident is at least six years old. The statute also lets cities apply their own rules when they are equal to or stricter than state law. Tempe has adopted the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, which contains its own barrier requirements, and the city’s Community Enhancement division lists swimming pool gates among the residential zoning complaints it investigates. In short: do not assume the state exemption means you can skip a barrier. We design to the code Tempe enforces and confirm details during plan review.
Barriers deserve extra attention on older pools. Many original Tempe pools rely on the house wall and a perimeter fence, with doors and gates that may not meet today’s standard. When we remodel, we look at gate swing, self-closing and self-latching hardware, latch height, door alarms and anything climbable near the fence line. Our Arizona pool safety requirements guide covers the details.
Tempe Fire Medical Rescue’s Water Safety page stresses layers of protection: watchful adults, fences with self-latching gates, alarms, and keeping tables, chairs and ladders away from pool fences. It also warns not to treat children as “drownproof” because they have had swimming lessons. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely campaign has practical checklists for families as well.
This is where Tempe projects are won or lost. A pool that looks simple on paper can get expensive if nobody measured the side yard or noticed the power line over the back fence.
We measure the narrowest point between the street and the backyard on the first visit. A wide side yard can take a compact excavator. A narrow one may mean smaller equipment, partial hand work, or temporarily removing a fence panel or section of block wall and rebuilding it to match. In rare cases, materials go over the house. We tell you which method applies and price it in the estimate, so access is not a surprise change order.
Decades-old trees are part of what makes Tempe neighborhoods pleasant. Digging inside a root zone can slowly kill a tree, and roots near a pool shell or deck can lift concrete later. We decide early which trees stay, keep excavation and equipment routes outside drip lines where we can, and plan for leaf drop with filter sizing, skimmer placement and, where it makes sense, an automatic cover.
SRP’s power line safety page advises keeping cranes, ladders and heavy equipment at least 10 feet from overhead lines, which affects how we dig near a rear-lot line. Before excavation, public utilities are marked through Arizona 811, as state law requires; private lines such as irrigation, old gas runs and abandoned plumbing are not, so we locate them carefully during the dig. New pumps, heaters and lighting can also push an original electrical panel past its capacity, so we have the service evaluated before equipment is finalized. Tempe’s Inspections page links to both SRP power line safety and Arizona 811 for the same reasons.
Most Tempe lots are flat, so deck runoff needs to be planned to stay off your house and your neighbor’s. A small number of properties sit in mapped flood hazard areas. You can look up any address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center or through the Maricopa County floodplain information page, and we check during design. Monsoon storms bring dust and debris into Tempe pools every summer; our monsoon pool prep guide covers the ownership side.
Use this checker to get a rough read on how equipment would reach your backyard and how much pool your usable space can hold while leaving room for deck. Measure the narrowest point of your side yard or gate, and the backyard space left after you subtract the patio and any area you want to keep. It is a starting point for your consultation, not a design or a price.
Enter rough measurements in feet. Results update as you type.
Planning estimate only. Assumes about 4 ft of deck on the sides and back and 6 ft on the house side, and trims the footprint when you report mature trees. Actual size depends on Tempe setbacks, barrier layout, equipment location and what we find on site.
Tempe projects split between new builds and remodels, and the two are priced very differently.
New pools. Our published tiers apply here as anywhere. A compact pool or plunge pool with a sun shelf and standard finishes often lands in the $45K–$65K tier. Adding a raised spa, an upgraded pebble finish, more decking and automation usually moves a project into $65K–$100K. Full backyard builds with shade, lighting, an outdoor kitchen and premium finishes are commonly $100K+.
Remodels. If the shell is sound, a remodel usually costs a fraction of a new pool. Resurfacing alone typically runs roughly $6,000–$18,000 depending on the finish, and tile, coping, equipment and deck work add to that. Our Tempe pool builder guide includes a remodel-versus-new calculator if you are deciding between the two.
What moves Tempe prices up or down:
These are typical ranges, not quotes. For a number based on your choices, use our cost calculator, read the Phoenix-area pool cost guide, or look at financing options and our pool loan calculator.
| Step | Typical time | What happens in Tempe |
|---|---|---|
| Free consultation | 1 visit | We measure access, walls and usable space, look at trees and overhead lines, and inspect any existing pool. |
| Design and estimate | 1–2 weeks | Layout, depth profile, features and access method, plus a written, itemized estimate. |
| City of Tempe and HOA or HPO approvals | Varies | Online submittal through the Citizen Access Portal, plus HOA or Historic Preservation Office review where it applies. |
| Demo or excavation, steel and plumbing | About 1–2 weeks | Utility marking, old deck or shell removal if needed, dig, steel, plumbing and the pre-shotcrete inspection. |
| Shotcrete and cure | About 1–2 weeks | New builds only: the shell is shot and cured before tile and coping. |
| Tile, coping, deck, equipment | About 2–4 weeks | Finish trades, electrical and gas work, barrier and gates installed or updated. |
| Final inspection, finish, startup | About 1 week | Barrier and final checks, interior finish, fill, water balancing and an owner walkthrough. |
A new build typically takes about 10 to 16 weeks from signed design to swimming; a remodel is usually shorter because there is no excavation or shotcrete. Weather, approvals, review comments and inspection scheduling all move the timeline. Our what to expect page and the full construction timeline guide explain each phase.
Arizona Pool Builders is based in Peoria, in the West Valley. Tempe is roughly 35 to 55 minutes away depending on traffic and which part of the city you are in. We schedule Tempe crews and inspections to keep the job moving, and we stay reachable by phone at 623.462.1473 during your build and after. We also work in Tempe’s neighbors. See the full list on our areas we serve page, or visit our pages for Mesa, Chandler, Ahwatukee and Scottsdale.
Before you hire anyone, including us, look up their license on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors search and read our 12 questions to ask a pool builder. For a longer guide to remodels, small lots and permits in this city, read the full guide to pool builders in Tempe, AZ. If your HOA and you disagree about a pool approval, the Arizona Department of Real Estate runs a homeowners association dispute process, though most approvals are settled with a revised drawing.
Book a free consultation at your home, or get an instant price range from our online calculator first.
Arizona Pool Builders is ROC #344023 — licensed for both residential and commercial pool construction with a KA-5 designation and in good standing with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
