[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986; and
amended by Ord. 394, 11/14/1990, § 1]
As used in this part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ABOVEGROUND/ON-GROUND SWIMMING POOL
A removable swimming pool of any shape that has walls and
an impervious liner that is located on the surrounding earth and may
be disassembled or stored and reassembled to its original integrity.
BARRIER
A fence, a wall, a building wall, or a combination thereof.
HOT TUB/SPA
A structure containing water, intended for recreational use,
in which all controls, water-heating, water-circulating equipment
are an integral part of the product.
IN-GROUND POOL
A permanent swimming pool in which the surface of the water
is approximately level with the surrounding ground surface and the
volume of water is below ground level.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location
on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SWIMMING POOL
Any structure intended for swimming and/or diving purposes,
made of concrete, masonry, metal or other man-made impervious material
or a combination thereof, in which the water is treated to maintain
a sanitary condition, and that has a water depth of 24 inches or more.
This includes in-ground, aboveground/on-ground swimming pools and
hot tubs/spas.
[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986; and
amended by Ord. 394, 11/1/4/1990, § 2]
This part shall apply to all new outdoor swimming pools hereinafter constructed as well as existing swimming pools, whether above ground or in the ground, having a depth of 24 inches or more at any one point. Outdoor swimming pools lawfully constructed or erected prior to the date of this enactment shall be considered nonconforming structures, as to their location and placement, but shall be required to meet the "enclosure" provisions of this part, §
23-104 hereof.
[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986]
1. Before any work is commenced on the construction of a swimming pool
or on any alteration, addition, remodeling or other improvement to
a swimming pool, an application for a permit for construction, together
with plans and specifications pertinent to the construction, as well
as explanatory data, shall be submitted to the Building Inspector.
No part of the work shall be commenced until approval has been granted
the applicant by a written permit. The fee for such permit shall be
set by resolution by the Board of Supervisors.
2. All plans, including a plot plan, shall bear the name and seal of
a registered architect or registered engineer. The plot plan shall
show the location of all buildings and the proposed pool on the property,
distances to all property lines in the immediate vicinity of the swimming
pool and dwelling, and the location of wells, sewage disposal systems
and proposed enclosure or fence around the pool.
3. Standard pools, properly designed by established swimming pool companies
and having the approval of a registered engineer or registered architect,
shall be acceptable when accompanied by suitable plans and specifications,
including information as stated herein.
[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986; and
as amended by Ord. 394, 11/14/1990, § 3]
An outdoor swimming pool, including an in-ground, aboveground/on-ground
pool, and hot tub/spa shall be provided with a barrier that completely
surrounds the swimming pool, which shall comply with the following:
A. The top of the barrier shall be at least 48 inches (four feet) above
grade measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the
swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the
bottom of the barrier shall be two inches measured on the side of
the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool. Where the top
of the pool structure is above grade, such as an aboveground pool,
the barrier may be at ground level or mounted on top of the pool structure.
Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum
vertical clearance between the top of the pool structure and the bottom
of the barrier shall be two inches.
B. Openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a four-inch-diameter
sphere.
C. Solid barriers which do not have openings, such as a masonry or stone
wall, shall not contain indentations or protrusions except for normal
construction tolerances and tooled masonry joints.
D. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members,
and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is less
than 45 inches, the horizontal members shall be located on the swimming
pool side of the fence. Spacing between vertical members shall not
exceed 1 3/4 inches in width. Where there are decorative cutouts
within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed
1 1/4 inches in width.
E. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members,
and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is 45
inches or more, spacing between vertical members shall not exceed
four inches. Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members,
spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 1 3/4 inches in width.
F. Maximum mesh size for chain-link fences shall be a one-and-one-fourth-inch
square, unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top
or the bottom which reduce the openings to no more than 1 3/4
inches.
G. Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, such as a lattice
fence, the maximum opening formed by the diagonal members shall be
no more than 1 3/4 inches.
H. Access gates shall comply with the requirements of Subsections
A through
G above, and shall be equipped to accommodate a locking device. Pedestrian access gates shall open outwards away from the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device. Gates other than pedestrian access gates shall have a self-latching device. Where the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate:
(1) The release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the gate
at least three inches below the top of the gate.
(2) The gate and barrier shall have no opening greater than 1/2 inch
within 18 inches of the release mechanism.
I. Where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, direct
access to the pool through the wall shall be limited to doors and
windows which meet the following conditions:
(1) Windows leading to the pool area shall have a latching device at
least 54 inches above the floor.
(2) Hinged doors leading to the pool area shall be self-closing and shall
have a self-latching device. The release mechanism of the self-latching
device shall be located at least 54 inches above the floor.
(3) Sliding doors and sliding screen doors leading to the pool area shall
be self-closing and shall have a self-latching device. The release
mechanism of the self-latching device shall be located at least 54
inches above the floor.
J. Barriers shall be located so as to prohibit permanent structures,
equipment or similar objects from being used to climb the barriers.
[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986; and
as amended by Ord. 466, 7/12/2000]
1. A swimming pool shall be located at the rear of a dwelling or along
the side of the dwelling where practical.
2. There shall be a minimum of three feet of concrete, stone, brick
or block sidewalk or other all-weather surface around all pools, except
portable aboveground pools.
3. No swimming pool or appurtenances, including decks and shelters, shall be erected nearer to any property line than a building could be erected in the same use district as set forth in Chapter
27, Zoning.
4. No swimming pool shall be so located as to interfere with the operation
of a well or on-site septic system or be located where there is potential
danger of a septic system discharging into the pool or onto the adjacent
area around the pool. If it is not possible to locate a swimming pool
within the required rear yard, no in-ground swimming pool or appurtenances
shall be located less than 10 feet from the rear property line, and
no aboveground/on-ground pool or appurtenances shall be located less
than six feet from the rear property line.
[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986]
No permit to construct new swimming pools (existing pools are
excluded from this section) shall be issued unless and until the following
design and construction requirements are observed:
A. Material. The material used for lining a swimming pool shall be light
in color, impervious and shall provide a tight tank with easily cleaned
surfaces. Sand or dirt bottoms are prohibited if uncovered.
B. Walls and bottom. All pool walls and bottoms shall be designed to
withstand water pressure from within and to resist the pressure of
earth or groundwater when the pool is empty.
C. Steps, ladders, handholds. One or more steps, ladders, stepholes
or handholds shall be provided for all pools. The coping of the swimming
pool, if not higher than eight inches above the water surface, shall
be considered a handhold.
D. Makeup water. Pools shall be equipped with suitable facilities for
adding makeup water as required. There shall be no physical connection
between the water supply line and the pool system. When makeup water
is added to the pool, the inlet shall be at least six inches above
the pool water surface.
E. Drainage outlet. No pool water shall be drained at the curb, along
the gutter line of any street, or on the surface of any street.
F. Recirculation. Provision shall be made for complete circulation of
water throughout the pool. The system shall be designed and constructed
so that a turnaround at least once every twelve-hour period shall
be provided. Recirculation systems shall consist of pumping equipment,
hair-and-lint catcher, filters, together with all necessary pipe connections
to the pool inlets and outlets, facilities and pipe connections necessary
for back-washing or cleaning filters.
G. Safety equipment. Life preservers, ropes and poles shall be readily
available at the pool site.
[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986]
No swimming pool shall be so located or maintained as to interfere
unduly with the enjoyment of the property rights of others.
[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986; and
amended by Ord. 394, 11/14/1990, § 5]
The pool may be lighted by underwater or exterior lights, or both, provided all exterior lights are located so that the light is neither directed nor reflected upon adjacent properties in such a manner as to be a nuisance or an annoyance to neighboring properties. Lighting shall comply with the provisions of §
23-110.
[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986]
1. All electrical installations shall conform to the specifications
of the National Electrical Code. No electric wires or conductors shall
cross, either overhead or underground, on any part of a swimming pool,
nor shall any electric wiring be installed parallel to any pool wall
closer than five feet, if underground, unless enclosed in a rigid
conduit, or within five feet, if overhead.
2. All underwater lights must be watertight, self-contained units with
ground connections running from a waterproof junction box to a proper
grounding facility or medium. All underground electric wires supplying
current to said lights within a distance of five feet of the pool
wall or walls shall be enclosed in rigid conduits.
3. All metal fences, enclosures or railings near or adjacent to a swimming
pool which might become electrically charged as a result of contact
with broken overhead conductors or from any other cause shall be effectively
grounded.
[Ord. 57, 2/9/1959; as revised by Ord. 356, 12/17/1986; and
as amended by Ord. 532, 9/10/2008]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than
$1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs,
to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation
of this part continues or each section of this part which shall be
found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.