[HISTORY: Adopted by Township Council of the Township of Washington
10-26-1995 by Ord. No. 26-1995 as Sec. 12-17 of the 1994 Code. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings
set forth:
A pool composed entirely of artificial construction.
A pool formed from a natural body of water which has either so limited
a flow or such an inadequate natural circulation that the quality of water
must be maintained by artificial means.
Any pool designed, used or maintained for swimming purposes by an
individual for uses by his/her household and guests and located on a lot as
an accessory use to a residence. Unless otherwise qualified, the term "private
swimming pool" shall be construed as including both artificial and partly
artificial pools.
No private swimming pool shall be hereafter constructed without a permit.
The swimming pool permit is not a substitute or replacement for a building
permit. Any pool construction which comes under the Uniform Construction Code
shall continue to require a building permit.
A.
Applications for a permit, accompanied by four sets of
plans and specifications or proper descriptive brochure, shall be made to
the Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer shall not pass on the structural features
or durability of the pool but shall issue a permit for the construction or
installation of the pool if the plans and specifications or descriptive brochure
comply with the rules and regulations hereinafter set forth.
Swimming pool permit fees shall be as set forth in Chapter 80, Fees.
All material used in the construction of private swimming pools shall
be waterproof. The bottom and sides of the pool shall be either white or a
light color, except that aluminum paint shall not be used as a finish. Sand
or earth bottoms are prohibited. Construction and design of such pools shall
be such that they may be maintained and operated to be clean and sanitary
at all times. The owners of every pool shall be responsible to maintain such
pool in such condition as to prevent breaks in the pool chassis or water from
the pool overflowing onto adjacent public or private property.
There shall be no physical connection between a potable public or private
water supply system and any pool at a point below the maximum flow line of
the pool, or to a recirculating or heating system of a pool unless such physical
connection is so installed and operated that no pool water can be discharged
or siphoned into a potable water supply system.
All private swimming pools hereafter constructed shall be provided with
one drainage outlet not in excess of two inches in diameter, extending from
the pool to either a brook, storm sewer or lawn sprinkling system on the premises
on which such pool is located. No private pool drain shall be connected into
the Township sanitary sewer or streets.
All private swimming pools shall be so constructed, installed and maintained
so as to provide necessary equipment for chlorination and other disinfection
and filtering to comply with approved bacteriological standards as may be
promulgated by regulations issued by the County Board of Health and the State
Department of Health. The County Health Inspector is hereby authorized to
take samples of the water from such pools from time to time, to insure compliance
with these requirements. [2]
A.
No swimming pool shall be constructed or installed nearer
than 10 feet to any property line nor nearer to the street line on which the
premises fronts than the main front wall of the dwelling erected thereon.
No pool shall be located nearer than 10 feet to any side or rear property
line in residential districts A, B or C.
B.
No private swimming or wading pool shall be constructed
or installed on any lot unless upon there shall be a residence located upon
such lot or unless such lot is part of a residence curtilage.
C.
Private swimming pools shall not be installed or erected
either below or above ground on any front or side yard.
D.
No pool will exceed nine feet in depth.
Every pool shall be fully enclosed by a suitable fence with a gate capable
of being locked when the pool is not in use. All gates and doors must have
a self-latching device for keeping doors and gates closed securely. Such fence
shall have a minimum height of four feet. Such fencing shall be a woven fence
with a mesh so that openings will not exceed two inches by two inches, or
standard chain link fence or cyclone fence, picket fence with a maximum distance
between pickets of two inches, or such other type of fencing conforming to
these standards. An accessory building may be used as part of such enclosure.
No artificial lighting shall be maintained or operated in connection
with private swimming pools in such a manner as to be a nuisance or annoyance
to neighboring properties. Any underwater lighting facilities shall be installed
in accordance with the current electrical standards under the current Electrical
Code adopted by the State of New Jersey.
All areas surrounding the pool and its enclosures shall be made and
kept neat and attractive so as to be in conformity with surrounding property,
with no rubbish, debris or litter of any kind at any time.
Sound absorbing and deflecting structures and plantings, shrubbery and
trees shall be provided in such number and so located so as to effectively
reduce the sounds from the pool to be heard from contiguous property or streets,
to the end that there shall be no unreasonably loud noise which is abnormal
to the surrounding neighborhood. No sound amplifying system shall be used.
Every private swimming pool constructed in the Township or to be constructed
shall at all times comply with the requirements of all authorities having
jurisdiction on the premises, and any nuisance or hazard which may exist or
develop in consequence of or in connection with any such swimming pool shall
forthwith be abated and removed by the person in possession of such pool,
upon receipt of notice from the designated person so requiring.
Any pool which does not exceed 18 inches in depth and 100 square feet
in surface area is excepted from the provisions of this section.
