[HISTORY: Adopted by the Bloomfield Council 5-10-1976 (Ch. 236 of the 1987 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
LOT
All contiguous property of the same ownership.
PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL
Includes any swimming or bathing pools or tanks, whether permanently installed, portable, collapsible or otherwise, having either an inside structural depth in excess of 24 inches or a surface area in excess of 120 square feet or capacity in excess of 1,800 gallons, constructed or maintained on any lot by any person for the use of himself or any one or more members of his family or guests of himself or his family.
A. 
No person shall install or construct a private swimming pool within the Township of Bloomfield without first having obtained the proper permits from the Community Development Department.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
All applications for a permit to construct a private swimming pool shall be made on such forms as may be required by the Chief Building Inspector and shall be accompanied by three sets of plans of sufficient detail prepared by the owner, professional engineer or licensed architect, showing the plot plan, drawn to scale, and including the lot size, location of structures on the lot, topography, pool, walks, fencing, drainage, water supply, electrical facilities, filters, heating system, if any, and disinfecting system. All plans submitted for in-ground pools must be prepared by a licensed professional engineer or licensed architect.
The Building Inspector shall issue a permit for the construction or installation of a private swimming pool, provided that the same complies with the provisions of this chapter, the Building Code[1] and other ordinances of the Township of Bloomfield and provided, further, that the application for the same has been approved, in writing, by the Health Department and the Township Engineer of the Township of Bloomfield.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 149, Building Construction.
In-ground pools shall be enclosed with a fence at least four feet in height. Aboveground pools need not be enclosed.
All private swimming pools shall be constructed and installed in such manner as to be waterproof and susceptible to being readily cleaned. All aboveground pools shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
A. 
All electric wiring installed shall be installed and used in conjunction with private residential swimming pools in conformity with National Electric Code standards, and the materials used or installed shall be as approved by National Underwriters' Laboratory.
B. 
No electric wires or conductors shall be installed or permitted to remain in such a position as to cross, either overhead or underground, any part of a private residential swimming pool, nor shall any electric wiring be installed parallel to any pool wall closer than five feet thereto, except if such wiring is both located underground and enclosed in rigid conduits.
C. 
All metal fences, enclosures or railings which are located near or adjacent to private residential swimming pools and which might become electrically alive as a result of contact with broken overhead conductors or from any other cause shall be effectively grounded.
A. 
Physical connections between potable water systems and a permanent private swimming pool or its circulation systems shall not be permitted. Potable water for makeup and filling purposes shall be introduced into a pool by means of a discharge pipe or hose turned downward either over a float-controlled surge tank or over the pool itself, having in either case an air gap of at least six inches between the orifice of the discharge pipe or hose and the pool or tank overflow level.
B. 
No water from the public water supply shall be placed in or allowed to flow into any swimming pool after a proclamation by the Mayor and Council that a water shortage exists or until such time as said water shortage is declared to have ended.
All discharge of water from filters and swimming pools shall be drained into a dry well or to the Township's storm sewer system either by direct connection or temporary hose laid to the nearest catch basin by an approved method and trapped against backflow for permanent installation. Swimming pools may be drained directly to the street.
All private swimming pools shall be so constructed, installed and maintained so as to provide equipment necessary for the chlorination or other disinfection, filtration and recirculation of the pool water so as to comply with approved bacteriological standards which may be promulgated by regulation issued by the Board of Health of the Township of Bloomfield, the State of New Jersey or other authorities having jurisdiction.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
All private swimming pools shall be constructed or installed and maintained in accordance with § 315-36D(5) of this Code.
All outside lights for illumination of the pool shall be so installed and maintained in order to eliminate glare and annoyance to adjoining properties. All such illumination shall be extinguished during those hours when the pool is not in use, and the pool must be illuminated after darkness when it is in use.
The enclosure hereinabove mentioned shall be provided with one or more substantial gates or doors of at least the height of the fence, and said enclosure and gates or doors thereof shall be so designed and constructed as to reasonably prevent any person from gaining access beneath, through or over the same. Every gate or door of such fence shall be kept securely locked at all times when the pool is not in use. Any access ladder or steps used in connection with an aboveground pool shall be removed from the pool when the same is not is use.
A. 
If a private residential swimming pool shall be used between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., noise should be eliminated after 11:00 p.m. and, after 11:00 p.m., the volume of illumination should be reduced so as not to constitute a nuisance to neighboring residents.
B. 
All private residential swimming pools shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and all equipment shall be maintained in a satisfactory operating condition during periods when the pool is in use.
C. 
No private residential swimming pool shall be used, kept, maintained or operated in the Township if such use or operation of the same shall be the occasion of any nuisance or shall be dangerous to life or detrimental to health.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued at any private residential swimming pool any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others. In the operation of such pool, the use or operation of any radio, receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants or at any time with louder volume than is necessary for the convenient hearing of the person or persons who are in the pool shall be unlawful.
A. 
Every private residential swimming pool shall be equipped with one or more throwing ring buoys not more than 15 inches in diameter and having 60 feet of three-sixteenths-inch manila line attached and one or more light but strong poles with blunted ends and not less than 12 feet in length for making reach assists or rescues. This requirement shall not apply to aboveground swimming pools having a depth of not more than 24 inches.
B. 
No diving board or platform more than three feet above water level shall be installed for use in connection with any private residential swimming pool.
The Building Inspector, Township Engineer and Health Officer, or their representatives, shall have authority to make such inspections of the construction, maintenance and operation of the pool and surrounding area as are necessary from time to time to ascertain that there is compliance with this chapter and the requirements of the Health and Building Codes.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Part III, Board of Health Legislation, and Ch. 149, Building Construction, respectively.
[Added 11-2-1987; amended 5-5-2008 by Ord. No. 08-18]
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in § 1-15, General penalty, of this Code.