The growth has been much more prominent in Sunbelt states like Florida, Arizona and Texas, Hickman said, but said many of the more northern states are just now coming into pool construction seasons.
Between January and May, the Pittsylvania County Office of Community Development has approved 18 permits for residential pools, both in-ground and above ground, according to permitting records. During that same time frame last year, there were only nine.
Seven of those applications this year came in February, with the majority put in by Tune & Toler Inc., a construction company that operates Dominion Pool & Spa in Blairs. Representatives from both organizations did not respond to Register & Bee requests for comment. Several Pittsylvania County residents who recently obtained a building permit to build a pool also did not respond to requests for comment.
The Danville Department of Community Development rarely sees more than two applications for residential pools in a year, said Charles Fulcher, inspections supervisor for Danville. This year, the city approved two in February but hasn’t had any since then, Fulcher said.
Amy Edwards, owner of The Pool House, a pool store in Bassett that serves surrounding localities including Pittsylvania County, said she has an endless line of customers looking for new pools.
“I won’t say more than we ever have, but more than we have in years,” she said, noting that at least 25 people call daily. Under normal circumstances, she would expect that number to be closer to five.
