A quarterly review of permit data for new swimming pool construction in Texas through the third quarter of 2022

Since the start of this year (thru September), new swimming pool construction has been on the rise in the Lone Star State.  From the combined metro areas of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin there have been nearly 10,300 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database through the third quarter of this year; this reflects a 3 percent year-over-year increase in total permits.  While Texas has demonstrated a rise in new swimming pool construction overall, some metro areas are seeing gains, while others are slightly lagging in comparison to last year.

For example, while Dallas holds the highest concentration of new swimming pool construction (4,894 permits) and has exhibited a 3 percent gain in comparison to the same time last year, the Houston area is demonstrating its first major decline in more than five years with a 17 percent year-over-year decrease in permits through Q3.  On the other hand, metro areas like Austin which have less total new construction permits on record for the nine-month period (1,536 permits) have been experiencing annual gains for the last several years, and this year Austin is already exhibiting a major 53 percent year-over-year spike in new pool construction.

Here is a closer look at each of the four major metro areas in Texas and the latest swimming pool construction data available from January through September of this year:

Dallas

As previously mentioned, Dallas ranks #1 for total swimming pool starts so far this year, having 4,894 new permits on record with HBW. Nearly 50 percent of all new permits originated from the counties of Collin (1,244 permits) and Tarrant (1,152 permits), and although the Dallas area as a whole is reflecting a small 3 percent year-over-year increase in new pool construction, it continues to demonstrate significant growth in a few counties (Denton, Rockwall, Ellis) with annual increases ranging from 46 percent to 500 percent.

Houston

Since 2017, new pool construction has been on an upward trajectory in the Houston area, but so far this year, the market appears to have cooled. Houston and it surrounding counties have exhibited a 17 percent year-over-year decrease in new pool construction through Q3, resulting in approximately 2,960 new pool permits on record with HBW. More than half of all new permits originated from Harris County (1,591 permits), where there has been a 23 percent year-over-year decrease in new pool construction.  When looking at annual growth in the area, Brazoria (305 permits) and Montgomery (402 permits) are the only counties to demonstrate growth through the third quarter, with year-over-year increases of 12 percent and 4.5 percent respectively.

Austin

As previously noted, one Texas metro area that is demonstrating growth in swimming pool starts is Austin.  Through Q3-2022, there have been more than 1,535 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database, reflecting a 53 percent year-over-year increase.  Out of the four counties that make up the area, the bulk of all new pool construction has taken place in Travis where there has been a 94 percent year-over-year increase resulting in more than 1,160 new permits.

San Antonio

New pool construction in the San Antonio area has been on a consistent rise for more than five years, and through Q3-2022 the area is already exhibiting a 30 percent year-over-year increase in new pool construction, resulting in approximately 900 new swimming pool construction permits. Out of the three counties that make up the San Antonio area, the majority of construction has taken place in Bexar County (647 permits) which is ahead of last year’s figures by 43 percent (thru Q3).

To gain more information on the builders, homeowners and permits for the construction activity above, check out HBW for your copy of the latest construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest residential and commercial building activity in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.