Who moves hot tubs?
Hot tub and spa dealers, pool and spa service companies and specialist hot tub movers do it, with a licensed electrician for the wiring and sometimes a crane company. In Virginia, a contractor on work valued at $1,000 or more needs a licence, and the electrical work needs a licensed tradesman. Check each licence at DPOR before you sign.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Describe the job
Write down the tub's make and size, the old and new locations, the route and any stairs or gates.[1]
Step 2: Start with the dealer or maker
Ask the dealer who sold the tub or its manufacturer whether they move it or can recommend a mover.[1]
Step 3: Look up each licence
Check every contractor and electrician at the DPOR licence lookup before you accept a quote.[2]
Step 4: Get three written quotes
Give each company the same description and ask for the price in writing.[2]
Step 5: Ask about the electrician and the crane
Ask who does the electrical disconnect and reconnect, and whether a crane is included if the route needs one.[1]
Step 6: Sign a written contract
Get the scope, price, payment dates and cancellation terms in a written contract before any work starts.[2]
Hot tubs are moved by spa dealers, pool and spa service companies and specialist hot tub movers, working with a licensed electrician for the wiring. No one trade owns the whole job, so the question is really who covers which part.
The people who can do the job
The dealer or manufacturer. The company that sold the tub knows the model. Cal Spas says its dealer may be able to assist you with arrangements on spa delivery.[1] If they do not move tubs themselves, they may know who does.
Hot tub and pool service companies. Many already drain, repair and install tubs and have the carts, the helpers and the habit of working around a tub's plumbing.
Specialist movers. Some companies move spas for a living. Ask how many they move each year and what they use on stairs or tight side yards.
General movers and handymen. A crew can carry weight, but a tub is wired in, so confirm that someone else handles the power and who is responsible if the shell cracks.
An electrician. Not optional on a full-size tub. Cal Spas says the circuit must be installed by an electrical contractor and approved by a local building or electrical inspector.[1]
A crane company. Only when the route is blocked. Cal Spas says that if your property requires the use of a crane, the cost of the crane is not something included with a standard delivery service of a spa.[1]
Licences that apply in Virginia
Two rules matter here.
The first is for the wiring. Virginia law says no individual shall engage in, or offer to engage in, work as a tradesman without a licence.[3] The Code defines a tradesman as any individual who engages in, or offers to engage in, work for the general public for compensation in the trades of electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.[4]
The second is for the contract. DPOR says that if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required.[2] Whether a move alone reaches that value depends on the price, so ask the company what licence it holds.
DPOR also says a license number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the contractor's license is valid.[2] Look it up yourself. If you contract with someone who does not hold a license, the Board for Contractors may not be able to help you resolve a complaint.[2] With a licensed contractor, you become eligible to receive monetary compensation from the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund in case of improper or dishonest conduct.[2]
Questions to ask before you hire
- Have you moved this make and size before, and how many tubs a year?
- Who disconnects and reconnects the power, and what is their licence number?
- Is a crane or lift included if the route needs one?
- What happens if the shell or the plumbing is damaged in the move?
- Is the permit your job or mine?
On the last one, Roanoke County says the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code requires a building permit for any swimming pool with a surface area greater than 150 square feet or more than 24 inches deep, and that the code makes no distinction between in-ground, above-ground or inflatable pools, hot tubs or spas.[5] Localities apply it their own way, so ask yours.
Get it in writing
DPOR says it is advisable to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors.[2] Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.[2] DPOR's rule of thumb on a deposit is an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.[2]
Stop and call a pro if
- Someone offers to do the wiring without a licence. Tradesman work needs one in Virginia.[3]
- The company cannot give a licence number you can look up at DPOR.[2]
- The quote is verbal only, with no scope or payment terms in writing.[2]
- Nobody has looked at the route, stairs or gates before quoting.[1]
Getting help in Virginia
For the work itself read how to move a hot tub, and for the money what a hot tub move costs in Virginia. See more pool and spa answers or browse pool and spa pros.
When you are ready, describe your hot tub move once and licensed local pros quote it.
Common questions
- Can any moving company move a hot tub?
- Some will, but check. A hot tub is heavy, awkward and wired in, so ask whether the crew has moved one before, what equipment they use and whether they handle the electrical side. A general mover will usually not do the wiring, so you will need an electrician as well.
- Does the hot tub dealer move it?
- Often the place to start. Cal Spas says its dealer may be able to assist you with arrangements on spa delivery.[^calspas-pre] If the dealer does not move used tubs, ask who they recommend.
- Does the mover or the electrician need a licence?
- The electrician does. Virginia defines a tradesman as any individual who engages in, or offers to engage in, work for the general public for compensation in the trades of electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.[^va-1128] A contractor taking on work valued at $1,000 or more needs a contractor's licence.[^dpor-hire]
- How do I check a licence?
- Use the DPOR licence lookup. DPOR warns that a license number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the contractor's license is valid.[^dpor-hire]
- Who arranges the permit?
- Roanoke County encourages the homeowner to have a licensed electrical contractor apply for the electrical permit, though the homeowner may do so.[^roanoke] Ask your own locality and settle in the contract who applies.
Sources
- [1] Portable Spa Pre-Delivery Guide (LTR50001024, Rev. E), Cal Spas. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [3] Va. Code § 54.1-1129, Necessity for licensure, Code of Virginia, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [4] Va. Code § 54.1-1128, Definitions (tradesmen), Code of Virginia, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [5] Residential: Installing a Swimming Pool or Hot Tub, Roanoke County, Virginia, Building Safety. Checked October 27, 2026.
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