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.
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 and Plumbing Codes, and Chapter
480, Zoning.
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.
[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.