Outdoor
Pool Enclosure / Screen Cage: Cost, Permits & Timeline
Building or rebuilding an aluminum screen enclosure over a pool or patio.
Model reviewed August 2026
Typical cost
$18,000
$9,000 – $42,000
per sq ft of enclosure
$18 – $40
Permit
Required
$180 – $700
Timeline
1-2 weeks of work
1-2 weeks of work, 4-10 weeks including engineering and permitting
Do you need a permit for pool enclosure / screen cage?
Yes
Pool Enclosure / Screen Cage is permitted and inspected work in essentially every jurisdiction. Typical fees run $180 to $700. A licensed contractor generally has to pull the permit.
What drives the cost
- Enclosure footprint and height
- Mansard versus gable roof style
- Screen type including no-see-um and pet screen
- Design wind speed for the parcel
- Existing deck footing capacity
Permit, inspections and documents
| Permit status | required |
|---|---|
| Typical permit fee | $180 – $700 |
| Licensed contractor required | Usually yes |
| Owner-builder allowed | Yes, on owner-occupied homes |
| Inspections | Footing / anchor inspection, Framing inspection, Final inspection |
| Timeline | 1-2 weeks of work, 4-10 weeks including engineering and permitting |
| DIY difficulty | 5/5 difficulty |
Documents typically required
- • Permit application
- • Engineered structural plans
- • Survey with setbacks
- • Wind-load calculations
Pool Enclosure / Screen Cage cost by city
Local labor and material pricing applied to the national baseline.
| City | Typical range | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $16,300 – $76,000 | +81% |
| Los Angeles | $13,400 – $62,500 | +49% |
| Miami | $12,100 – $56,500 | +35% |
| Chicago | $12,000 – $55,800 | +33% |
| Phoenix | $9,500 – $44,100 | +5% |
| Dallas | $9,200 – $43,000 | +2% |
| Houston | $9,300 – $43,200 | +3% |
| Tampa | $9,900 – $46,300 | +10% |
| Denver | $10,700 – $49,800 | +19% |
| Orlando | $9,500 – $44,100 | +5% |
| Atlanta | $9,300 – $43,300 | +3% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $11,600 – $54,000 | +28% |
Pool Enclosure / Screen Cage across the country
National pricing, state-by-state pricing, and the tools behind both.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for pool enclosure / screen cage?
In most jurisdictions this work is permitted and inspected. Requirements are set locally, so confirm the current application and inspection checklist with your building department before work starts.
How long does pool enclosure / screen cage take?
1-2 weeks of work, 4-10 weeks including engineering and permitting. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.
What changes the price the most?
The largest cost drivers are enclosure footprint and height; mansard versus gable roof style; screen type including no-see-um and pet screen.
Sources
Sources & verification
Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.