[HISTORY: Adopted by the Representative Town Meeting of the Town of Fairfield as Ch. 15 of the Code of the Town of Fairfield 1968. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Board of Health — See Charter, § 10.9.
Building Inspector — See Charter, § 9.8.
Department of Public Works — See Charter, § 10.8.
Buildings — See Ch. 56.
Noise from swimming pool pumps — See Ch. 78, § 78-9E.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH
The Director of Health of the Town of Fairfield or his duly authorized agent.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
The Town Engineer and Director of Public Works of the Town of Fairfield or his duly authorized agent.
RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOL
A body of water in an artificial receptacle or other container, permanently constructed either above or below the ground, having a depth at any point greater than two feet or having a water surface area greater than 250 square feet, used or intended to be used for swimming, including all structures, appurtenances, equipment, appliances or other facilities pertinent to and maintained for the operation thereof. Such requirements apply only to swimming pools located on private property under the control of the occupant, the use of which is intended for swimming or bathing by members of the occupant's family.
SUPERVISOR OF THE BUILDING INSPECTION DEPARTMENT
The Supervisor of the Building Inspection Department of the Town of Fairfield or his duly authorized agent.
[1]
Editor's Note: The provisions in this chapter have been preempted by the enactment of the State Building Code, which contains swimming pool regulations and requirements which are controlling over those contained herein. See C.G.S. § 29-253.
All residential swimming pools hereafter constructed shall conform to all the requirements of this chapter. All existing swimming pools shall conform to §§ 93-9, 93-10 and 93-11.
No residential swimming pool or appurtenances thereto shall be constructed, installed or altered prior to approval from the Director of Health and subsequent issuance of zoning and building permits.
Zoning and building permit fees shall be set according to the regulations of the Plan and Zoning and Building Commissions of the Town.
A. 
Plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Director of Health and the Supervisor of the Building Inspection Department, shall be drawn to scale and shall show dimensions and construction of pool and appurtenances, properly established distances to lot lines, buildings, walks and fences, details of water supply, drainage and water disposal systems, location of overhead electrical conductors, location of existing domestic sewage disposal system and all appurtenances pertaining to the swimming pool. Detail plans of structures, vertical elevations and sections through the pool showing depth shall be included.
B. 
When applying for permits, one copy of the plans shall be furnished to the Director of Health and one copy to the Supervisor of the Building Inspection Department.
Before the pool may be used, a certificate of use shall be obtained from the Building Inspection Department. This shall be issued following approval of the Director of Health and final inspection by the Supervisor of the Building Inspection Department.
Residential swimming pools shall conform to the zoning regulations of the Town.
A. 
Generally. Residential swimming pools shall be engineered, designed and constructed to withstand the expected forces to which they will be subjected, full or empty.
B. 
Wall slopes. To a depth up to five feet from the top, the wall slopes shall not be more than two feet horizontal in five feet vertical.
C. 
Floor slopes. The slope of the bottom of the shallow side of the transition point shall not exceed one foot vertical to seven feet horizontal. The transition point between shallow and deep water shall not be more than five feet deep.
D. 
Steps and ladders. One or more means of egress shall be provided from the pool. Treads of steps or ladders shall be equipped with a handrail, except that handrails may be omitted when there are not more than four steps or when the steps extend the full width of the side or end of the pool.
E. 
Diving boards. No diving board platform shall be installed or used for any residential swimming pool having a depth of less than eight feet of water under the end of the board.
A. 
Water supply to be potable. All swimming pools shall be provided with a potable water supply, except that water from natural sources may be used if approved by the Director of Health in accordance with the standards for water purity as set forth in the Public Health Code of the State of Connecticut, Section 19-13-B 33.
B. 
Protection of water supply, There shall be no cross connection between the potable water supply and the water in the pool which would allow pool water to get into the water supply.
C. 
Recirculating systems. Residential swimming pools shall be equipped with a recirculating system capable of filtering the entire contents of the pool in 18 hours or less. The pool owner shall have available operating instructions, which shall be provided by the supplier or builder, covering the proper care and maintenance of the pool, including the use of high-test calcium hypochlorite (dry chlorine) or sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) or equally effective germicide and algaecide, and the importance of proper pH (alkalinity and acidity) control. Operating instructions shall also be provided with every recirculating system.
D. 
Wastewater disposal. Effluent from filters during the backwash cycle shall be discharged to a dry well, leaching field, disposal area or device approved by the Director of Health.
E. 
Drainage systems. The swimming pool and equipment shall be equipped to be completely emptied of water. Pool water may be disposed of in a manner approved by the Director of Public Works and the director of health so as not to create a nuisance or health hazard to adjoining property or to the public.
F. 
Discharge of pool water. Pool water may not be discharged at the curb or on the surface of any road. In all instances where a public stormwater drain is available, the water from the pool may be discharged therein if, in the opinion of the Director of Public Works, such stormwater drain is adequate. Where the water from the pool is not disposed of in the public stormwater drain, it shall be disposed of by means of dry wells or leaching fields or a tank truck or a sprinkling system or dispersion point on the surface, provided that such water will not overflow onto abutting property or flood existing leaching areas of a sewage disposal system.
G. 
Protection of water supply. There shall be no direct physical connection between any drain from the pool and any storm drain which would permit a backup from the storm drain into the swimming pool.
Where lights are used to illuminate any portion of a residential swimming pool, they shall be so arranged or shaded as to reflect light away from adjacent premises or public highways.
A. 
Overhead electric conductors. No overhead electrical conductor shall be installed or maintained within 20 feet of the perimeter of any swimming pool. All metal fences, enclosures or railings near or adjacent to pools to which bathers have access, which may become electrically charged as a result of contact with broken overhead conductors or from any other cause shall be effectively grounded.
B. 
Abandonment of pools. If any residential swimming pool shall be abandoned or permanently discontinued, it shall be filled, regraded or covered in a manner approved by the Supervisor of the Building Inspection Department.
C. 
Enclosures. Residential swimming pools shall be protected with fencing or permanent enclosures, either around the pool area or the property, to make the water inaccessible from the outside to small children. Such fencing or permanent enclosures, including gates therein, shall be not less than four feet high above the underlying ground. All gates shall be self-closing and self-latching, with latches placed four feet above the underlying ground or otherwise made inaccessible from the outside to small children. Buildings may constitute part of the enclosure. Natural barriers may constitute part of the enclosure as long as the protection afforded is equal to that provided by the fencing, gate and latch described above. Aboveground pools which are protected by steps, with self-closing, self-latching gates, at least four feet high, or with vertical sides at least four feet high and steps easily removable by one person, shall not require fencing or other enclosure.
A. 
The Supervisor of the Building Inspection Department and the Director of Health shall conduct such inspections as they deem necessary to ensure compliance with provisions of this chapter.
B. 
In the event that any swimming pool is found to be a hazard to health, the Director of Health may cause a suspension of the use thereof until such time as it shall no longer constitute a hazard.
An appeal may be taken from a decision of the Supervisor of the Building Inspection Department in the enforcement of this chapter in accordance with the provisions of the Building Code of the Town.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 56, Building, Art. II, State Basic Building Code.