Gilbert Pool Draining and Backwash Rules

Pools in Gilbert need draining for resurfacing, repairs or when hard-water dissolved solids build up. The Town of Gilbert publishes specific options for where pool water and filter backwash can go, and getting it wrong can cause flooding, erosion or a Town Code violation.

This guide summarizes the Town's published rules.

Option 1: your yard

The Town's preferred method is draining onto landscaping or other areas of your property where water can soak in, but only if the area can absorb it without running into a ditch, street, storm drain or retention area and without flooding neighbors. If only part of the water can go onto your property, the rest can use another option.

Option 2: the sanitary sewer cleanout

The private sewer cleanout may be used for draining or backwashing when you lack space, and is the option for water with high chemical levels or saltwater pools. Watch for backups in tubs and showers and stop the pump if water rises. Consult a plumber if you cannot find the cleanout.

Option 3: curb and gutter

Only for clean, dechlorinated water. The Town says not to drain saltwater pools to the street, not to use this method in lake communities or on streets with flooding problems, and never to backwash into the street. Sediment-laden water goes to the yard or sewer cleanout.

Prohibited connections

Never plumb a permanent connection from the pool pump to the sewer cleanout or curb; the Town says that violates Town Code. Filter rinse water must not enter the gutter or roadway.

Permits and HOA rules

The Town does not require a permit to drain a pool, but you must follow its guidelines, and HOA communities may add their own policies. The Town does not offer a utility bill credit for refilling.

When draining leads to resurfacing

If you are draining to resurface, published estimates put resurfacing at $6,000–$15,000 and draining, cleaning and refilling at about $425–$475. Avoid leaving a plaster pool empty in summer heat longer than necessary; ask your contractor about timing.

Practical draining tips

Plan the drain for a time when the yard can absorb water and no storms are expected. Use a submersible pump rated for the job and run the hose where it will not erode soil or damage plants. If you use the sewer cleanout, use the one closest to the house and keep checking indoor drains. Do not leave a pool empty longer than necessary; ask your contractor about hydrostatic pressure and whether a relief valve should be opened. Lower pH and chlorine levels before draining toward landscaping.

How long draining takes

Draining time depends on pool volume and pump rate. A typical residential pool holds well over ten thousand gallons, and pushing that volume through a sewer cleanout too fast can back up into the house, which is why the Town's guidance tells you to watch tubs and showers and stop the pump if water rises. Plan for most of a day or longer, and avoid starting late in the afternoon when you cannot monitor the flow.

Monsoon season cautions

The Town's yard option only works when the ground can absorb the water without running into a street, retention basin or neighboring lot. During monsoon season, soils may already be saturated and retention areas full, so the yard option may not be available. The curb option is also off the table on streets with flooding issues. If storms are forecast, schedule the drain for a dry stretch or use the sewer cleanout.

After the pool is empty

An empty pool in Gilbert sun heats quickly and exposed plaster can crack or delaminate if left too long. Contractors usually schedule the drain to start the morning work begins. Keep gates latched and the barrier closed; an empty pool is a fall hazard for children and pets, and the barrier rules still apply.

Refilling and water use

Refilling uses a large volume of Town water, and the Town does not offer a utility credit for refills. Many owners refill with a hose overnight and start chemical balancing as soon as the pool is full. If you are resurfacing, follow the contractor's start-up instructions rather than your usual routine.

Checking your HOA rules

Some Gilbert HOAs limit draining to certain hours or require notice to neighbors. The Town's guidance tells residents to follow HOA policy in addition to the Town's options, so check both before you start.

Finding the cleanout

The Town notes most cleanouts are near the foundation, often by the front bathroom or kitchen, and may be hidden under gravel or shrubs; homes with the same floor plan usually share a location. Mark the cleanout location on a simple site sketch so anyone draining or backwashing later sends water to the right place. That way the rule is followed even when someone new services the pool.

Cartridge filters avoid backwashing altogether, which can simplify discharge questions; ask your builder whether one suits your pool size.

Published pool renovation cost estimates

Sources: Angi: Pool resurfacing cost (2026); Angi: Saltwater pool conversion cost (2026); Angi: Pool removal cost (2026). Figures are published national or regional estimates compiled by those sites, labeled as estimates; they are not quotes and not prices from any provider on this site. Arizona sun and hard water shorten finish life, so local resurfacing intervals can be shorter than national averages.

Local rules and code references

• Town of Gilbert Public Works, Pool Draining: three allowed options: onto your own property where water can soak in without runoff or flooding neighbors; into the private sanitary sewer cleanout (also for high-chemical or saltwater water); or to the curb only for clean, dechlorinated non-saltwater water and not in lake communities or flood-prone streets. No permit is required, backwash may not go to the street, and permanent connections from the pump to the cleanout or curb violate Town Code.
• Town of Gilbert Permits, Applications & Checklists: where the Town posts current residential pool and spa application checklists and submittal requirements.
• Town of Gilbert Land Development Code §4.107 B (pool enclosures and gates): enclosure of walls, solid wall, chain link or wrought iron not less than 5 feet nor more than 6 feet high; openings must stop a 4-inch sphere; gates self-closing and self-latching; padlocked double-width (RV) gate exception.

Code text and department procedures change; confirm current requirements with the jurisdiction before work starts.