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Community Corner

Residential Pools Require Adherence to State Laws, Local Ordinances

Make sure your pool, fence and gates are up to Peters Township standards before you return to swimming.

It's almost officially summer. Be sure to review the requirements and laws that are in place—in Pennsylvania and —if you have, or just purchased, a pool. 

Pool safety laws were designed to protect your family, friends and neighbors from accidental drowning, injury or electrocution. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are more than 3,000 deaths from drowning each year unrelated to boats as well as many more injuries from near-drowning incidents.

The CDC also reports that fatal drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years.

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Coinciding with safety, there are guidelines in Peters that pool owners must follow: 

  • Fences must be a minimum of 4 feet in height with a self-closing/self-latching gate. Above ground pools must have a 4-foot barrier all the way around with a lock-up ladder. 
  • The bottom rail to top rail on a fence may be no closer than 46 inches.
  • Removable kiddie pools must be securely covered when not in use. If greater than 2 inches of water, then it will need proper fencing.

Since 2004, the Pennsylvania statewide building code requires the following laws be met to ensure safety related to private pools. This is in effect for all areas of Pennsylvania:

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  • Any body of water more than 24-inches deep is considered a pool and must meet required safety standards.
  • All pools must be fenced on all sides with a structure at least 48-inches high.
  • For above ground pools—The sides of the pool, if 48 inches, may be considered the fence. A removable or locking ladder is required and it must be removed or locked when the pool is not in use.
  • For in-ground pools—All fence gates must be self-closing and latching. A house may be used as the fourth side of the fence, but all doors leading to the pool area must have an audible warning device if no other gate or door is between the house and the pool. A power safety cover may also be used.

Be safe swimming this summer!  

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