Swimming Pool Contractor in Memphis

June 14, 2026

Before any shovel hits the ground in Memphis, the licensing question is worth settling. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors requires a contractor’s license once a job reaches $25,000 or more in combined labor and materials, and a residential in-ground pool almost always passes that mark, so the builder you hire should carry the right classification and a monetary limit that covers your project. You can check both at verify.tn.gov before you sign. Jobs in the smaller $3,000 to $25,000 band may instead fall under the Home Improvement license in the Shelby County area, where that class has been adopted.

Memphis sits at the heart of the Mid-South, and that setting shapes the local pool market. The city’s population is roughly 618,980, but much of the new-construction demand radiates outward into Shelby County suburbs such as Germantown, Collierville, and Bartlett, where larger lots and newer subdivisions invite backyard pools. Inside the city, the steadier work is renovating and resurfacing pools that have served older neighborhoods for decades. Long, muggy summers, with July highs near 90 and a swim season that runs well into the early fall, make a pool a genuine warm-weather fixture rather than a brief-season luxury, which keeps Mid-South builders working across most of the calendar.

The construction itself is substantial: excavation, a load-bearing shell, plumbing, electrical bonding, decking, and inspections that have to clear at set stages. A contractor who builds in the region day in and day out reads the local soils, works around lot limits, and moves a permit through the right office without losing weeks. The shell decision usually comes down to three choices. Gunite, sprayed concrete over a rebar cage and finished in plaster, pebble, or tile, allows any custom form. A fiberglass shell is molded off-site and set into the hole for a quicker install and a smooth finish. A vinyl-liner pool, built on a wall frame with a replaceable membrane, typically costs the least to enter.

Cost and consumer protection round out the planning. In Shelby County the combined sales tax reaches about 9.75%, the 7% state rate plus the local option, so request an itemized contract that breaks out materials, labor, and tax rather than a single lump figure. Tennessee’s Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), administered through the Division of Consumer Affairs, gives buyers recourse against deceptive practices, and putting the scope, warranties, payment schedule, and timeline in writing before work starts protects everyone. Many Memphis firms also fold renovation, weekly service, and 3D design previews into their offerings.

Top Swimming Pool Contractor Providers in Memphis

1. American Pool Techs

Address: 3189 Kirby Whitten Road, Suite 102, Bartlett, TN 38134
Phone: (901) 755-3000
Website: https://american-pooltechs.com
Services: new pool construction, gunite pools, fiberglass pools, vinyl-liner pools, pool renovation and remodel, weekly pool service, equipment repair, pool opening and closing, outdoor living design
Description: American Pool Techs LLC has built and serviced pools across the Mid-South since 2006 and builds all three major in-ground pool types, gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl-liner. The company operates from two Shelby County area locations, the Bartlett office on Kirby Whitten Road and a second location in Brighton on Old Highway 51 South, and its service area spans Shelby, Tipton, Fayette, and Madison counties, including Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, and Cordova, as well as parts of north Mississippi and eastern Arkansas. The company is licensed, bonded, and insured and holds Tennessee Contractor License No. 69393. Beyond new construction, it offers pool renovation and remodeling, weekly maintenance service, equipment repair, seasonal opening and closing, and outdoor living design.

2. Mid South Pool Builders

Address: Serves Memphis and Shelby County; a public street address is not listed on the company website.
Phone: (901) 853-6339
Website: https://midsouthpoolbuilders.com
Services: gunite concrete pool construction, custom pool design, project consultation, complete project construction, water features, spas, free estimates
Description: Mid South Pool Builders has designed and built custom in-ground swimming pools for more than 25 years and specializes in gunite concrete construction, the method that allows fully custom shapes, depths, and integrated features. The company serves Memphis, Germantown, and Collierville in Tennessee, along with Southaven and Olive Branch in Mississippi and Jonesboro and Paragould in Arkansas, covering Shelby County and DeSoto County among others. Its process moves from project consultation and custom pool design through complete construction, and its capabilities extend to water features and spas as part of a custom build. The company offers free estimates for prospective pool projects.

3. AGS Pool Services

Address: Serves the Memphis region; a public street address is not listed on the company website.
Phone: (901) 340-2180
Website: https://www.agspools.com
Services: pool design and construction, gunite pools, vinyl-liner pools, fiberglass pools
Description: AGS Pool Services builds custom in-ground pools in the Memphis region and surrounding Mid-South area and reports roughly 25 years of experience in pool construction. The company, whose listed contact is Oscar Chavez, builds gunite, vinyl-liner, and fiberglass pools, giving homeowners a choice across all three major construction methods, from fully custom concrete shells to lower-cost liner pools. The company focuses on pool design and construction and maintains weekday business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for consultations. Buyers should confirm the project location and licensing details directly with the company when requesting an estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Swimming Pool Contractor in Memphis

Q: Does a Memphis pool contractor need a license to build an in-ground pool?

In Tennessee, projects valued at $25,000 or more in combined labor and materials require a contractor license from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, and in-ground pool construction routinely exceeds that figure, so a residential pool builder should hold the appropriate license classification. Residential work between $3,000 and $25,000 falls under the Home Improvement license in the counties where that class applies. Buyers can confirm a contractor’s license and monetary limit through the Board for Licensing Contractors database at tn.gov.

Q: Do I need a permit to build a pool in Memphis?

Yes. Building permits for in-ground residential pools are pulled locally through the City of Memphis and Shelby County, and the work is inspected at defined construction stages. A reputable contractor typically handles the permit application and schedules the required inspections as part of the project, but the homeowner should confirm in the contract who is responsible for pulling permits.

Q: What are the fence and safety requirements for a residential pool in Tennessee?

Residential pools must be surrounded by a barrier that is generally at least 48 inches high, with gates that are self-closing and self-latching and that open away from the pool, consistent with the barrier provisions Tennessee jurisdictions adopt from the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. A compliant safety cover adds another layer of protection. Local codes can include additional requirements such as alarms, so buyers should confirm the exact rules with the local codes office.

Q: Gunite, fiberglass, or vinyl-liner, what is the difference?

Gunite pools are sprayed concrete formed over a steel cage and finished with plaster, pebble, or tile, allowing fully custom shapes and depths. Fiberglass pools are pre-molded shells set into the excavation, which usually means a faster installation and a smooth surface. Vinyl-liner pools use a wall structure with a replaceable membrane and generally carry a lower entry cost, though the liner is replaced periodically over the pool’s life. Several Memphis builders offer more than one of these methods.

Q: How is sales tax applied to a pool project in Memphis?

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Shelby County adds a local option tax that brings the combined rate to roughly 9.75%. How materials and labor are taxed can depend on how the contractor structures the agreement, so buyers should request an itemized contract that separates materials, labor, and tax.

Q: What should I confirm before signing a pool construction contract in Memphis?

Request written documentation of the full scope of work, the construction and structural warranties, the payment schedule, and the expected timeline, and verify the contractor’s license through the Board for Licensing Contractors at tn.gov. Because Tennessee’s mechanics’ lien law (TCA 66-11-145) allows contractors and suppliers to file a lien within 90 days of completion, tying payments to completed milestones protects both sides. Complaints about deceptive practices can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104).