How Much Does an In-Ground Pool Cost in Maryland?

Maryland’s mix of humid summers and county-by-county permitting rules makes pool pricing one of the most-asked, least-consistently-answered questions homeowners run into. LAZO Outdoors has been designing and building custom in-ground pools throughout Maryland, southern York and southern Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania, and Delaware since 2003, and this guide walks through what actually drives the price of a project, county by county, from the first shovel of dirt to the final walkthrough.

A custom in-ground pool in Maryland starts at $85,000 and up with LAZO Outdoors, with the final number shaped by pool size and shape, shell material, site conditions, decking and finish choices, and any added features like a spa, waterfall, or automation system.

What Does a Custom In-Ground Pool Cost in Maryland?

At LAZO Outdoors, custom in-ground pools start at $85,000 and up. Where a specific project lands within that range comes down to a handful of variables:

• Entry-level custom pools cover a straightforward shape and size, a quality shell, standard decking, and the essential equipment package.
• Mid-range projects typically add features like an integrated spa, upgraded lighting, or a larger footprint with more elaborate decking.
• Luxury builds can include infinity edges, extensive natural stone or paver decking, water features, full smart-home automation, and custom finishes, and these projects can run well beyond the starting price depending on scope.

Whether a fiberglass or concrete shell makes more sense for your project also affects both cost and timeline. If you’re weighing the two, our companion guide on fiberglass vs. concrete pools for a Maryland backyard breaks down the differences in more depth.

What Factors Affect the Cost of Your Pool Installation?

A handful of variables move the number more than anything else:

• Site preparation: Excavation cost depends on your yard’s grading, soil conditions, and access for equipment. A backyard with tricky slope or limited equipment access costs more to prepare than a flat, open lot.
• Pool size, shape, and depth: Larger pools, custom shapes, and added depth all increase material and labor costs.
• Shell material: Concrete (gunite/shotcrete) shells are fully custom but take longer to build; fiberglass shells install faster but come in manufacturer-set shapes and sizes.
• Decking and coping: We work with paver and hardscape lines including Techo-Bloc, Nicolock, Belgard, Cambridge, and Unilock, along with natural stone, and the material you choose has a real impact on the total project cost.
• Interior finish: Plaster, aggregate, and pebble finishes each come at a different price point and offer different long-term durability. We work with interior finishes from NPT and Pebble Tec, so you can compare options in person before choosing.
• Added features: Spas, waterfalls, tanning ledges, heaters, and automation systems each add to the total. We install pool equipment and automation from Pentair, Hayward, and Jandy, and the system you choose affects both the upfront cost and how you control the pool day to day.
• Permits and engineering: Permit fees and engineering requirements vary by county, which we cover in more detail below.

What Permits Do You Need to Build a Pool in Maryland?

Every in-ground pool in Maryland requires a permit, and the exact process depends on which county your property sits in. LAZO Outdoors builds throughout Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, southern York and southern Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania, and Delaware. We manage the entire permitting process on your behalf, including having a licensed structural engineer prepare the construction plans your jurisdiction requires.

Beyond the building permit itself, nearly every Maryland jurisdiction requires a pool barrier or fence that meets safety code, generally based on the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Requirements vary by county in the details, but most call for a barrier at least 48 inches high with no gaps wider than 4 inches and a self-closing, self-latching gate. Your specific county’s building or health department can confirm the exact requirements for your address, and our team accounts for this as part of the design and permitting process rather than leaving it for you to sort out after the fact.

What Should You Expect From a Quality Pool Builder?

A handful of things separate a pool project that goes smoothly from one that doesn’t:

• Who actually does the work: Our work is self-performed by our in-house crews, and on the rare occasion we bring in a specialty subcontractor, they’re vetted and qualified by our team and supervised directly by us from start to finish. That’s a meaningful difference from builders who hand a project off between multiple outside crews with no single point of accountability.
• Real engineering, not guesswork: A licensed structural engineer should prepare your pool’s construction plans, particularly given Maryland’s varying soil conditions county to county.
• Materials you can verify: Ask specifically what shell material, decking brand, finish, and equipment options a builder uses, and expect a straight answer.
• A warranty that means something after the fact: No company is perfect, but a builder worth hiring stands behind what they build and makes it right when something goes wrong, even after the warranty period ends. That’s how we operate at LAZO Outdoors.
• Financing that fits your project: We offer financing through both HFS Financial and VistaFi, so you have options for how you fund the investment.

Who Is the Top-Rated Company for Pool Installation in Maryland?

LAZO Outdoors has been designing and building custom in-ground pools since 2003, with an in-house team, a HomeAdvisor Elite Service and Top Rated distinction, and a portfolio spanning Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, southern York and southern Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania, and Delaware. From your first design consultation through the final equipment walkthrough, our work is self-performed by our in-house crews, so the same team that designs your pool is accountable for building it.

Request Your Design Consultation

Between site conditions, shell material, decking choices, and county-specific permitting, the cost of a Maryland in-ground pool depends on more than square footage alone, but a custom project with LAZO Outdoors starts at $85,000 and up. LAZO Outdoors has been building custom pools throughout Maryland, southern York and southern Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania, and Delaware since 2003, backed by financing through HFS Financial and VistaFi and a warranty we stand behind well past the fine print. Request Your Design Consultation to start planning your pool.

FAQs

1. How much does a basic in-ground pool cost in Maryland?

With LAZO Outdoors, a custom in-ground pool starts at $85,000 and up. The final cost depends on size, shape, shell material, decking, finishes, and any added features like a spa or automation system.

2. Does the cost differ between fiberglass and concrete pools?

Yes. Fiberglass shells are manufactured off-site and typically install faster, while concrete (gunite) shells are fully custom-built on-site and offer more design flexibility, generally at a higher cost. See our full fiberglass vs. concrete comparison for a detailed breakdown.

3. How long does it take to build a pool in Maryland?

Timeline depends on shell material, project scope, and how quickly county permits are approved. Concrete pools generally take longer to build than fiberglass pools due to curing time and the fully custom construction process.

4. Do I need a permit to build a pool in Maryland?

Yes, every county in Maryland requires a permit for in-ground pool construction, along with a compliant safety barrier or fence. LAZO Outdoors manages the entire permitting process, including engineering, on your behalf.

5. Does LAZO Outdoors offer financing?

Yes. We offer financing through both HFS Financial and VistaFi, so you can choose the option that works best for your project and budget.

6. What areas does LAZO Outdoors serve?

LAZO Outdoors builds custom pools throughout Maryland, including Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties, along with southern York and southern Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania, and Delaware.