Throughout the year, we take a look at HBW’s Building Activity Trend Report to gain a clearer picture of how the metro Atlanta swimming pool construction market is performing. By analyzing permit activity across the 24 counties that make up the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, we can identify where residential swimming pool construction remains strong, where activity has softened, and whether broader market trends are beginning to shift.
It is important to note that this report represents a snapshot of permit activity through the third quarter of 2026. While permit data provides valuable insight into market conditions, it is not written in stone. There are still three months remaining in the year, meaning plenty of time for activity levels to either strengthen, weaken, or remain on their current trajectory.
At the halfway point of 2026, we used the same HBW trend data to conduct a mid-year check-in. At that time, the metro Atlanta market was showing a modest but encouraging 2% year-to-date increase in new swimming pool construction permits compared to the same period in 2025. Fast forward three months, and the overall pattern has remained remarkably consistent.
Through the third quarter of 2026, metro Atlanta has recorded 2,006 new residential swimming pool construction permits, representing a 1% increase compared to the same period last year. Now, a one-percent increase is not exactly the type of growth that sends economists scrambling to revise forecasts. However, context matters. Since 2022, the metro Atlanta swimming pool market has experienced a series of year-over-year declines. Those decreases have ranged from a substantial 26% contraction in 2023 to a much smaller 2% decline in 2025. With that history in mind, simply moving back into positive territory is noteworthy. While it would be premature to declare a full-scale market rebound, the data suggests that the industry may be entering a period of stabilization. After several years of cooling demand, the market appears to be settling into a more sustainable pace. And for swimming pool professionals, builders, suppliers, and contractors, stabilization can be just as valuable as rapid growth.
Fulton County Maintains Its Lead
As has often been the case, Fulton County remains the highest-volume market for new swimming pool construction permits within the metro Atlanta region. Through the third quarter of 2026, Fulton County recorded 387 new swimming pool permits. Perhaps even more interesting is that this total reflects exactly a 0% change compared to the same period in 2025. In other words, Fulton County is running almost perfectly parallel to last year’s pace. Given the county’s size and permit volume, that level of consistency is another indication that the overall market may be finding equilibrium after several years of fluctuations.
Higher-Volume Counties Continue to Drive Activity
Several other counties also contributed significantly to overall permit volume across the region.
Cherokee County – Cherokee County recorded 181 new permits through Q3 2026, representing a 7% year-over-year decrease. At first glance, a 7% decline may appear significant. However, percentages can sometimes tell a more dramatic story than the actual numbers. In this case, that decline equates to approximately 14 permits, making it far less concerning than the percentage alone might suggest.
Forsyth County – Forsyth County generated 161 new permits through the third quarter, reflecting a modest 2% decrease compared to Q3 2025. This slight decline is well within the range of normal annual market fluctuations and continues to position Forsyth among the region’s strongest pool construction markets.
Cobb County – One county that experienced a more notable adjustment was Cobb County, which recorded 159 permits through Q3. The total permits reflect a 22% year-over-year decrease, making Cobb one of the more significant declines among the region’s higher-volume counties. While permit activity remains substantial, the drop is worth monitoring as the year concludes.
Coweta County – Coweta County continues to perform well, finishing the third quarter with 149 new swimming pool permits. This represents a 6% increase over the same period last year and demonstrates continued demand within the county’s residential construction sector.
Gwinnett County – Rounding out the higher-volume markets is Gwinnett County, which recorded 147 permits through Q3 2026. The county posted a 1% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2025, closely mirroring the overall metro Atlanta trend and reinforcing the broader narrative of market stability.
Counties With Notable Growth
While permit volume often captures attention, growth rates can sometimes reveal emerging opportunities that larger markets might overlook. Several counties stood out for their year-over-year gains through the third quarter:
Fayette County – Fayette County recorded 105 new permits, reflecting a 9% increase compared to Q3 2025. The combination of strong permit volume and positive growth makes Fayette one of the more encouraging markets in the region this year.
Paulding County – Perhaps one of the more impressive performers among the larger-growth markets is Paulding County. Through Q3 2026, the county recorded 107 permits, representing a substantial 19% year-over-year increase. While total permit volume remains below the region’s largest counties, the growth trajectory is certainly worth noting.
Jackson County – Although permit totals are more modest, Jackson County also deserves recognition. The county recorded 96 new swimming pool construction permits through the third quarter, reflecting a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. While it may not command the same attention as some of Atlanta’s larger counties, Jackson’s growth rate suggests continued expansion and healthy levels of construction activity.
Looking Ahead to the Final Quarter
While Q3 data provides a valuable benchmark, it does not provide the final chapter of the story. With three months still remaining in 2026, the market has time to move in either direction. What we can say with confidence is that the dramatic year-over-year declines that characterized much of the post-pandemic period appear to be easing. A 1% increase may seem small, but after several years of contraction, even modest growth can be meaningful. More importantly, numerous high-volume counties are exhibiting stability, while several secondary markets are posting respectable gains. For now, the metro Atlanta swimming pool construction market appears to be doing something it has not done consistently in recent years: holding steady.
And sometimes, especially after a few years of market turbulence, steady can feel pretty refreshing. Pun absolutely intended.
Information utilized for the above listed figures for Metro Atlanta swimming pool construction was directly derived from HBW 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.