Berkeley Lake is one of Gwinnett County’s smallest cities, covering less than two square miles between Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and the Chattahoochee River. It began in the late 1940s as a summer retreat around the private lake that gives it its name and was chartered in 1956. Today it is a quiet, wooded community with a large city greenspace, and the city’s rules are written to keep it that way.
What Berkeley Lake Requires
The City of Berkeley Lake issues its own building permits, reviewed by the city’s building inspector. Its permit checklist includes several items that affect a pool:
- New pools must meet the city’s swimming pool design and construction section, and the pool counts toward impervious lot coverage.
- Removing a non-exempt tree requires a city tree permit, healthy trees removed must be replaced, and lots must meet a minimum tree density.
- Projects within 2,000 feet of the Chattahoochee require Atlanta Regional Commission review.
- Septic lots need a Gwinnett Environmental Health septic permit.
- Where covenants apply, the HOA should be consulted before the permit application.
Designing for a Wooded, Regulated Lot
On a Berkeley Lake property, the right pool is usually the one that fits the coverage limit and protects the best trees. We map the lot, calculate coverage, choose a pool size and equipment location that work, and show it all in a 3D design rendering before anything is submitted. Gunite is the natural fit here because it can be shaped to fit between trees and within tight limits.
Features to Consider
- Inset or raised spas
- Compact geometric pools sized for coverage limits
- Sheer descents and scuppers
- LED lighting and automation
- Automatic safety covers
Berkeley Lake is about an hour from our Athens base. Call (706) 705-7751 to schedule a consultation.
