[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Bethel 5-24-1969 by Ord. No. 29-1. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 155.
Zoning — See Ch. 480.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings herein indicated.
FENCE
An enclosure. Such enclosure shall be at least four feet in height, constructed of masonry, wood, or metal, with apertures no larger than three inches, equipped with a self-closing gate and complete with a key-operated lock.
FRONT YARD
The area of a lot lying between the street and the dwelling extending across the full width of the lot, and, in the case of a corner lot, extending the full depth of the lot.
PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL
Any body of water, tank, pond, or other receptacle for water containment, whether artificially or semi-artificially constructed, or portable, having a depth at any point 18 inches or over, or containing over 750 gallons of water; used, or intended to be used, for swimming or bathing by the owner, his family, his tenants and guests of the residents, and constructed, installed, established or maintained in or outside of any building, in or above the ground, on any premises as an accessory use to the residence. Any pools under 18 inches in depth, or with a capacity less than 750 gallons of water are excluded herefrom.
It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, install, establish or maintain, or alter, remodel or reconstruct a private swimming pool, as herein defined, without having obtained a permit therefor in the manner prescribed in § 402-3 herein.
Application for permits shall be submitted to the Township Building Inspector, together with a set of plans and specifications setting forth the details, area and depth of the proposed construction, alteration or remodeling, in all of its parts, together with a plot plan showing the location of the pool on the lot, the location of buildings on the lot, the fencing, existing and planned, and the height and aperture dimensions thereof, and all open spaces required by this chapter, drawn to scale and dimensions. Applications shall be made on forms supplied by the Building Inspector.
A fee of $5 per each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the cost of alteration or remodeling; new construction, $0.01 per gallon will be required.
[1]
Editor's Note: Pursuant to Ord. No. 208, adopted 10-14-2014, fees established by ordinance can be amended from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. The current fees are on file in the Township offices.
A. 
The Building Inspector shall make such determinations of the plans and specifications submitted to assure the compliance with all requirements of this chapter, the Building[1] and Plumbing Codes, and Chapter 480, Zoning.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 155, Construction Codes, Uniform.
B. 
The Building Inspector shall determine the method and manner of emptying all pools, but no swimming pool of any type can be emptied into, or be connected to a sanitary sewer system.
All private swimming pools shall be constructed of materials so that they shall be waterproof and easily cleaned. Construction and design shall be such that they may be maintained and operated as to be clean and sanitary at all times. The owner of every private swimming pool shall be responsible to maintain said pool in such condition as to prevent breaks in the pool chassis or water from the pool overflowing onto adjacent property. Footings shall be provided, if required by Township Building Inspector.
There shall be no physical connection between a portable public or private water supply system and private swimming pools at a point below the maximum waterline of the pool or to a recirculating or heating system of said pool.
[Amended 7-14-1998 by Ord. No. 135]
No private swimming pool shall be constructed nearer than 15 feet to a property line, nor 10 feet from the rear of the house, nor shall it be constructed or placed in the front yard of such property. Accessory buildings such as locker rooms, bath houses, cabanas, shower rooms, toilets, and other physical facilities or equipment incident to the operation of any private swimming pool shall conform to the requirements of the Bethel Township Building[1] and Plumbing Codes, and Chapter 480, Zoning.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 155, Construction Codes, Uniform.
Every private swimming pool shall be completely surrounded by a fence, as described in § 402-1. Every person maintaining a private swimming pool shall keep the gate closed and locked at all times when said pool is not in use by the person maintaining the same, his family or his guests. Within 30 days after the effective date of this chapter, any person maintaining a private swimming pool within the limits of Bethel Township, which has been constructed prior thereto, shall erect a fence surrounding said pool.
A. 
Lighting. No artificial lighting shall be maintained or operated in connection with private swimming pools in such a manner as to be a nuisance or an annoyance to neighboring properties.
B. 
Vacant residences. All private swimming pools shall be drained and maintained free of water, during the period that the property is vacant, and the required fence shall at all times be secured and kept in proper repair by the owner.
A. 
Every private swimming pool constructed, installed, established or maintained or to be constructed, installed, established or maintained in the Township of Bethel shall at all times comply with the requirements of the Delaware County Board of Health. Any nuisance or hazard to health which may exist or develop in, or in consequence of, or in connection with, any such private swimming pool shall be abated and removed by the owner, lessee or occupant of the premises on which said pool is located within 10 days of receipt of notice from the Building Inspector or the Health Officer of the Township of Bethel. It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector and the Health Inspector, respectively, to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
The Building Inspector and/or Health Officer or any of their assistants or deputies shall have the right to enter any premises or any building or other structure for the performance of their duties to ascertain compliance with this chapter.
[Amended 2-12-2002 by Ord. No. 149]
Whenever the owner of any private swimming pool about to be, or in the course of being erected, takes exception to the decision of the Zoning Officer in refusing to approve the issuance of a permit, or in refusing to approve the manner of construction, or kinds of construction or alteration, or to his decision as to its safety or its construction, or kinds of construction or alteration, or to his decision as to its safety or its compliance with the provisions of this chapter, such owners or their duly authorized attorney, or agent, may file an appeal with the Bethel Township Zoning Hearing Board. All appeals will be in an accordance with Chapter 480, Zoning, Article II, Zoning Hearing Board, of the Code of the Township of Bethel.
[Amended 6-9-1996 by Ord. No. 132]
Any owner or other person who shall construct, alter or repair any private swimming pool without the permit required by this chapter first having been obtained; or who shall fail to comply with any of the requirements of the permit, or of this chapter; or who shall fail to comply with any regulation, order or direction of the Building Inspector; or who shall in any way violate any of the provisions of this chapter, shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township before a Magisterial District Judge, pay the maximum amount authorized by the provisions of 53 P.S. § 66601(c.1), plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this chapter.