Custom Pool Builder for Leonard, Texas Homes
At Canyon Oak Pools, we design and build custom gunite swimming pools, spas, and complete outdoor living spaces for homeowners in Leonard, Texas. Leonard sits in southwestern Fannin County, roughly 10 miles from Blue Ridge, and the design conversation here often starts in a different place than it does in a master-planned subdivision.
On a property served by an on-site sewage facility rather than city sewer, the location of the septic system can matter more than the property line. On a larger parcel, the question becomes where the pool should go rather than whether it fits. And Leonard has a set of city requirements, covered below, that affect both who can do the work and when crews are allowed on site.
Our owner, Larry Parnell, has been designing and building custom pools in Texas since 1995, and he remains personally involved in our construction operations. We intentionally limit the number of projects we accept so that owner-level oversight stays part of the process.
Two Kinds of Leonard Lot, Two Design Problems
Leonard is a small city of just under 2,000 people covering a little over two square miles of incorporated area. Properties inside the city limits and properties on the surrounding land present two fairly different design situations.
On an in-town lot, the work is conventional: usable yard dimensions, setbacks, existing patio, equipment placement, and construction access through a side yard. On a larger parcel, space is rarely the limiting factor. The limits come from the septic disposal area, the driveway, well and utility lines, and how far a gunite rig can practically reach from where it can be positioned.
We design around those conditions rather than starting from a predetermined pool package. Lot size, access, drainage, easements, elevation changes, existing structures, desired features, and the architecture of the home all influence the final design. A pool should look as though the outdoor space was planned as part of the property, not placed into it afterwards.
See Our Completed North Texas Projects
We have designed and constructed a wide range of backyards across North Texas, including modern and traditional pools, integrated spas, geometric designs, resort-style water features, tanning ledges, fire features, outdoor kitchens, covered entertaining spaces, and extensive hardscape.
Every project is designed around the specific property, so no two are alike. What works on a wide acreage lot backing onto open pasture is not what works on a tighter in-town lot with a narrow side yard, and the design starts from those conditions. You can see completed pools, spas, and outdoor living spaces across our service area in our project gallery.
If you are early in the process, the most useful first step is sending us a copy of your property survey. It lets our design team review setbacks, easements, access, and elevation before anyone starts drawing.
What to Sort Out Before Work Starts in Leonard
A successful pool design starts long before excavation. Leonard has a few specific requirements that are worth understanding early, because they affect both the schedule and who can do the work.
Leonard Requires a Building Permit and Registered Contractors
Leonard's zoning ordinance states that no permanent structure, including improvements and appurtenances attached to it, may be constructed within the city limits before the Building Inspector issues a building permit, and that plans must be approved by the Building Inspector first.
The city also operates an annual contractor registration and publishes a list of registered contractors. The city states that permits are processed in 7 to 10 business days, and that applications may be submitted in person at City Hall or by email, with email preferred and faster. Leonard has adopted the 2024 International Building Code with the North Central Texas Council of Governments local amendments, and the city notes those codes took effect in January 2026.
Construction Hours Are Set by City Ordinance
Leonard establishes approved working hours as Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The city publishes a separate after hours application that requires neighbor approval.
This matters more than it sounds. Some phases of a pool build, gunite placement in particular, run on a schedule set by the crew and the material rather than by convenience. A builder who plans around these hours from the start avoids problems that a builder who discovers them mid-project cannot easily fix.
If Your Property Is on Septic
If your property is served by an on-site sewage facility rather than city sewer, the septic system often determines where the pool can go.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sets minimum separation distances in 30 TAC section 285.91(10), Table X. A septic tank, soil absorption system, or evapotranspiration bed must be at least 5 feet from a swimming pool or other structure. For a surface application system, the edge of the spray area must be at least 25 feet from the pool.
That 25 foot figure is the one that reshapes a backyard. If you have an aerobic system with spray heads, the design has to work around it from the beginning.
Fannin County permits on-site sewage facilities through its Environmental Development office, and an authorization to construct is required before permitted work begins. One caveat worth knowing: under 30 TAC section 285.10, when the on-site sewage facility program is delegated to a municipality, that authority is limited to the city's incorporated area. So the reviewing office for a property inside the Leonard city limits will not necessarily be the same one that reviews a property outside them. Confirm which authority applies to your address before assuming.
Getting Equipment to the Backyard
Access is one of the first things we evaluate. The available path from the street to the backyard affects excavation, equipment access, material delivery, and sometimes the overall construction approach.
On acreage, the route also has to avoid running heavy equipment over a septic disposal area or a private water line.
Drainage, Elevation, and Blackland Clay
Leonard sits on the northern Texas Blackland Prairie. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service ecological site descriptions for this region describe the shrink swell potential of these soils as very high.
These clays expand as they take on water and contract as they dry, on a seasonal cycle. That is why the structural design, soil preparation, and drainage all need to be evaluated as part of the construction plan rather than treated as an afterthought. It also affects decking, coping, and any retaining work around the pool. Our guide to expansive clay soil and your pool covers this in more detail.
How Much Does a Custom Pool Cost in Leonard?
The cost of a custom gunite pool depends heavily on the design, size, site conditions, access, decking, spa, water features, materials, outdoor living components, and other selections.
A relatively straightforward custom gunite pool without a spa generally begins in the neighborhood of the mid-$80,000s. Pools with integrated spas, upgraded finishes, extensive decking, retaining walls, water or fire features, outdoor kitchens, structures, and landscaping can increase substantially from there.
Because we do not sell prepackaged pools, meaningful pricing begins with understanding the property and what you actually want to build. If you are comparing quotes, it is worth knowing how to read a pool bid line by line. Financing options may be available for qualified homeowners.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Pool in Leonard?
There are two timelines homeowners should understand.
The first is the pre-construction period, which can include design, revisions, engineering, permitting, selections, and construction preparation. In Leonard this period also includes the city's stated 7 to 10 business day permit review, and any septic review through Fannin County if the system is being modified.
The second is the pool construction period, beginning with excavation.
Timing varies based on project complexity, weather, inspections, material availability, specialty features, and municipal requirements. Wet Blackland clay is slow to excavate and slow to haul, so weather delays here are real rather than padding. Our guide to how long it takes to build a pool breaks the phases down.
The goal is not simply to build quickly. It is to maintain momentum while making sure each phase is completed correctly before moving to the next.
About Canyon Oak Pools
We are a family-owned North Texas custom pool builder focused on high-quality gunite construction and complete backyard environments.
Homeowners come to us because they want more than a swimming pool. They want a builder who understands how structure, materials, equipment, decking, water features, outdoor living, drainage, and landscape all need to work together.
Larry Parnell has been designing and building pools in Texas since 1995 and remains personally involved in the construction side of our projects. We intentionally limit the number of pools we build so that quality and oversight are not sacrificed for volume.
We have also been recognized for both our work and our business practices, including receiving the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics and multiple local Best Pool Builder honors in North Texas.
WHO YOU BUILD WITH MATTERS®
Leonard Pool Builder FAQ
Questions
Do you build custom gunite pools in Leonard?
Yes. We specialize in custom gunite swimming pools, spas, and outdoor living projects throughout North Texas. Contact us to confirm current availability for your address.
How long does it take to get a pool permit in Leonard?
The City of Leonard states that permits are processed in 7 to 10 business days, and that emailed applications are preferred and process faster than those submitted in person. That is the review window only. It does not include time to prepare plans or schedule inspections.
Does my pool builder need to be registered with the City of Leonard?
Leonard operates an annual contractor registration and publishes a list of registered contractors. Confirm your builder's current registration status with City Hall before signing a contract.
Can crews work on my pool on a Sunday?
Leonard's approved working hours allow Sunday work between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Work outside the approved hours requires the city's after hours application with neighbor approval.
How close can a pool be to my septic system?
Under 30 TAC section 285.91(10), Table X, the minimum separation from a septic tank, soil absorption system, or evapotranspiration bed to a swimming pool or other structure is 5 feet. For a surface application system, the edge of the spray area must be at least 25 feet from the pool. Local permitting authorities may apply additional requirements.
Can you tell whether a pool will fit on my property?
The best starting point is a current property survey. Our design team can review setbacks, easements, backyard dimensions, and access before discussing design possibilities. On a septic property, the location of the tank and disposal area should be identified as well.
Do you offer standard pool packages?
No. Our projects are individually designed around the property, home, budget, and features you want.
Ready to Design Your Leonard Backyard?
If you are considering a custom pool, spa, or complete outdoor living project in Leonard, we would be happy to take a look at your property and talk through what may be possible.
The first step is simple: send us a copy of your property survey along with a little information about what you are hoping to create. One of our design consultants can review the property and help determine the best next step.
Send Us Your Survey