Every person owning land on which there is situated a swimming pool,
which contains 24 inches or more of water in depth at any point, shall erect
and maintain thereon an adequate enclosure surrounding the pool area, sufficient
to make such body of water inaccessible to children up to eight years of age.
Such enclosure, including gates therein, shall be not less than four feet
above the underlying ground. All gates shall be self-closing and self-latching
with latches placed four feet above the underlying ground and on the pool
side of the fence. The mechanisms must be inoperable or inaccessible to children
up to eight years of age. No opening in the enclosure, other than the gate,
can be wider than four inches. Individuals should not have access to the pool
without passing through a primary enclosure. Both fence and gate lock must
meet with the approval of the inspector.
Aboveground pools shall be enclosed as described above, or shall have
a mechanism which restricts access to the pool such as a retractable, locking
stairway to the pool decking. This mechanism must meet with the approval of
the inspector.
Variances to the above regulation may be requested. Approval of the
variance is at the discretion of the Groton Board of Health and will be based
on the applicant successfully demonstrating that he or she will be providing
equal or superior protection to that required by this regulation.
The Board of Health may designate the Groton Building Department inspectional
personnel as its technical agents to enforce the above regulation. Permit
applications must include adequate plans of fencing, gates or other means
of restricting access to the pool.