Not sure why it matters who "pulls" the permit. Where I live a contract may take out a permit for a homeowner, but it is ultimately the homeowners responsibility to have the permit. Before the town will sign off they will inspect the work, and by law you are not allowed to pay a contractor the final payment until you have an approved inspection.

Every town is different. Where we are you may not have a pool on the side of your house - only the back. The law is written that the front of the pool may be no closer to the street that the back of your house.