[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:
All contiguous property of the same ownership.
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.
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]
[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.
