DEFINITIONS
Swimming Pool - Any body of water or receptacle for water having a depth at any point greater than two feet and a surface area greater than 100 square feet, used or intended to be used for swimming or bathing and constructed, installed or maintained outside any building.

ZONING REQUIREMENTS

• All property owners or contractors installing swimming pool or hot tub must apply for a Zoning Certificate prior to applying for a building permit and prior to beginning construction.

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• The following items are required to obtain a Zoning Certificate:

  • Completed Zoning Certificate application

  • Survey or site plan of the property with the swimming pool or hot tub drawn to scale and distance of swimming pool or hot tub from side and rear property clearly indicated.

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• Swimming pools/hot tubs accessory to a dwelling shall be located at least 10 feet from any property line.

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• Swimming pools/hot tubs shall not be permitted in the front yard.

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• Swimming pools shall be fenced and secured in accordance with the requirements of the Uniform Construction Code (UCC).

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• The minimum height of the fence shall be four feet and the maximum height shall be six feet.

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• Hot tubs may be covered instead of fenced.

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BUILDING REQUIREMENTS

• Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep do not require a building permit.

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• All other swimming pools and hot tubs require a building permit.

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• Submittal of building plans – Including pool, deck, and electrical (if applying for a building permit)

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• Contractor or property owner Certificate of Liability Insurance and Certificate of Workers Compensation Insurance (if applying for a building permit)

REVIEW PROCESS

• After submitting a Zoning Certificate application (and Building Permit application if necessary), the Township Zoning Officer will review the request. If approved, the Zoning officer will issue a Zoning Certificate and notify the applicant to pick-up certificate and pay the related fee. If denied, the property owner has the right to request a zoning variance with the Zoning Hearing Board.

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• The Zoning Officer will transfer all approved zoning requests to the Building Inspector (if necessary). The Building Inspector will review all building plans and contact applicants with approval or denial. Applicants must pay related permit fees when they pick-up the permit.

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PURPOSE
This informational sheet provides a summary of the Township Code requirements related to safety barriers around
residential above ground pools.

DEFINITION
An outdoor swimming pool used or intended to be used solely by the owner of a residential property, his family, or
lessee thereof and his family, and by guests invited to use it without the payment of any fee.

CODE REQUIREMENTS

• Private residential swimming pools, hot tubs and spas containing water more than 24 inches in depth shall be completely surrounded by a fence or barrier at least 48 inches in height above the finished ground level measured on the side of the barrier away from the pool.

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• The fence shall be constructed as to have no openings, holes or gaps larger than two (2) inches in any dimension.

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• If the fence or wall is a picket fence, the horizontal dimensions maintained shall not exceed four (4) inches.

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• A dwelling or accessory structure may be used as part of such barrier enclosure.

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• All gates or door openings through such enclosure shall be equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device on the pool side of the gate or door.

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• Self-closing and self-latching gates shall positively close and latch when released from an open position of six (6) inches from the gatepost.

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• The door of any dwelling or accessory building which forms a part of the enclosure need not be so equipped with self-closing and self-latching mechanisms.

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• Above ground pools having walls four feet or greater in height, consistently for the entire perimeter of the pool, may be excluded from the fencing requirement provided such pools are equipped with access ladders which may be raised and locked in a near vertical position when the pool is unattended.

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• Openings created by the securing, locking or removal of ladders and steps may not allow the passage of a four (4)-inch sphere.

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• Spas or hot tubs with a safety cover that complies with ASTM F 1346 shall be exempt from the barrier provisions mentioned above.