In response to a series of stringent water conservation regulations, custom homebuilders in Las Vegas are redefining pool designs for luxurious mansions to adapt to new limitations on swimming pool sizes.
As of July 2022, the Clark County Commission enacted regulations through the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) that strictly limit the surface area of swimming pools for newly constructed single-family homes to a mere 600 square feet, aimed at reducing evaporation losses in the arid environment of Southern Nevada.
These regulations are part of a broader initiative to mitigate water consumption, prompted by prolonged drought and dwindling water supplies from the Colorado River.
Tyler Jones, CEO of Blue Heron, expressed his support for the new guidelines, stating, “I think it is a sensible restriction. We just had to get creative. It is more about working within the constraint to still create a functional, beautiful pool.”
Under these new restrictions, once-popular features such as large infinity-edge pools, waterfalls, and extensive water walls may soon become obsolete. Instead, builders are exploring innovative solutions such as smaller bubbling water features that complement shaded areas and integrative spa experiences.
“We like the sound of trickling water,” Jones added. “What matters is the design. How is it oriented? How do you access it? How does the water feature tie in with the view of the surrounding landscape?”
Blue Heron has successfully crafted new luxury homes in the Ascaya community of Henderson, incorporating these compact swimming pool designs into the overall outdoor experience. Two of their notable projects—Arise and Egress, both listed at over $10 million—boast expansive internal living spaces exceeding 7,000 square feet and feature stunning views from the McCullough Mountains.
The pools in these homes have been carefully integrated into outdoor living areas, featuring covered patios, natural landscaping, underwater lighting, outdoor fire tables, and built-in grills, all designed to cultivate a sense of well-being and relaxation.
Ozzie Kraft Enterprises, which has a longstanding history in building residential and commercial pools since 1942, shares similar sentiments about the impact of regulations on pool design.
Terence Thornton, a watershape designer and project manager at Ozzie Kraft, pointed out, “Yes, the restrictions have affected how we approach swimming pool design. They have obviously limited the size of pools and spas. Keep in mind, this is not just for luxury homes, but all homes.”
To adapt to the constraints, the company has begun incorporating features such as elevated pools and spas with acrylic viewing panels, which create an illusion of larger space and grandeur. Additionally, they are integrating various outdoor living amenities like kitchens, media centers, fire features, and children’s play spaces into custom projects to enhance family enjoyment and entertainment options.
In efforts to address the pool size restrictions, Ozzie Kraft and other industry members commissioned a comprehensive study of the LVVWD regulations to explore more flexible solutions that could still achieve the intended water conservation goals.
However, as of now, the LVVWD has not adopted proposals for relaxation of the strict pool size limitations that were officially approved by the Clark County Commission.
Beth Moore, the public information coordinator for the LVVWD and Southern Nevada Water Authority, confirmed, “Since the 600-square-foot regulation on swimming pools had been approved by the Clark County Commission as of July 2022, there have not been any recent considerations by the Las Vegas Valley Water District to change it.”
Among the proposals made during the study was a suggestion to permit swimming pool sizes to correspond proportionately to the size of the land lot, capping them at 1,000 square feet instead of strictly enforcing the 600-square-foot limit. This adjustment would allow for a broader spectrum of pool sizes tailored to the dimensions of the property, effectively encouraging water conservation across various home styles.
For instance, homes built on larger lots would have the potential for larger pools, up to 1,000 square feet, while still observing water-saving practices. Many newly constructed homes in the area are built on smaller lots, which means their pool sizes would typically be less than the current cap.
Proposals also included allowing luxury homeowners to opt for larger pools while contributing a higher water conservation fee to the LVWDD. Such fees could be utilized to fund water-saving initiatives in the community that could counterbalance the impact of excessive water usage.
Another innovative option discussed was to permit the installation of automated pool covers, which mitigate evaporation, potentially enabling luxury homes to feature larger pools without compromising water conservation goals.
Dan Coletti, owner of Sun West Custom Homes, criticized the existing regulations for their inability to accommodate varying property sizes, asserting, “I don’t think the ‘one-size-fits-all’ regulation is the best. It feels like it is a heavy penalty to homeowners with larger properties. The regulation should be more adaptive.”
He explained that historically, production homes on smaller lots in Las Vegas included swimming pools that were typically sized between 375 to 450 square feet, often rendering the regulations excessively stringent.
Coletti observed a trend where homeowners, particularly those with extensive outdoor patio spaces, often complement compact swimming pools with added amenities such as landscaping features, outdoor kitchens, and recreation areas. However, this aggregation of outdoor features may inadvertently undermine the intended water-saving objectives reflected in the LVVWD guidelines.
Sun West Custom Homes recently unveiled The New American Home of 2025 in the Ascaya community, featuring a price tag of $15 million. This luxury residence exemplified cutting-edge building technologies and design principles showcased during the International Builders’ Show in February 2025.
Here, the integration of a smaller swimming pool with an expansive outdoor patio area was achieved through motorized glass pocket doors, creating an illusion of larger space. A recessed reclining area for bathers providing a breathtaking view of the Las Vegas Valley was installed nearby, enhancing the overall appeal of the luxury home experience.
As the Las Vegas valley continues to grapple with water scarcity, professionals in the custom home and pool-building industries are actively collaborating and brainstorming innovative solutions, ensuring that future designs remain both elegant and environmentally responsible.
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