[Adopted 12-9-1958 as Ord. No. 630]
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following
words shall, for the purpose of this ordinance, have the meanings
herein indicated:
An enclosure. Such enclosure shall be at least four feet
in height constructed of masonry, wood or metal, with apertures no
larger than three inches, equipped with a self-closing gate and complete
with a key-operated lock.
The spreading course at the base or bottom of a wall or other
construction.
The area of a lot lying between the street and the dwelling,
extending across the full width of the lot and, in case of a corner
lot, extending the full depth of the lot.
Any person, copartnership, association, firm or corporation.
Any body of water, tank or receptacle for water, whether
artificially or semiartificially constructed, or portable, having
a depth at any point greater than two feet, used or intended to be
used for swimming or bathing solely by the owner, his family and guests
of the household, and constructed, installed, established or maintained
outside any building in or above the ground upon any premises as an
accessory use to the residence. Portable wading pools under two feet
in depth are excluded herefrom.
Any artificially constructed pool not designed or used for
swimming with a maximum depth of under two feet.
It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, install, establish, maintain, alter, remodel or reconstruct a private swimming pool or wading pool as herein defined without having obtained a permit therefor in the manner prescribed in § 126-3 herein. However, no permit shall be required for a wading pool of the portable type with a depth of under two feet.
[Amended 2-14-1978 by Ord. No. 990]
A.
Application for permits shall be submitted to the Township Code Enforcement
Officer, together with two sets of plans, and specifications setting
forth the details, area and depth of the proposed construction in
all of its parts, together with a plot plan showing the location of
the pool on the lot, the location of buildings on the lot, the fencing,
existing and planned, and the height and aperture dimensions thereof,
and all open spaces required by this ordinance, drawn to scale and
dimensioned. Applications shall be made on forms supplied by the Building
Inspector, accompanied by a fee as follows:
[Amended 6-9-1981 by Ord.
No. 1049; 12-29-1987 by Ord. No. 1176; 9-8-2015 by Ord. No. 1560]
B.
Upon approval of plans and specifications by the Building
Inspector, one set of each so marked will be returned to the applicant
and must be kept on the site with the permit and be available at all
times to the Building Inspector or other officers of the township.
No change in the same shall be made without notification to and approval
by the Building Inspector.
The Building Inspector shall make such determinations
of the plans and specifications submitted to assure the compliance
with all requirements of this ordinance, the Building Code and the
Springfield Township Zoning Code.[1] He shall determine the mode of construction to make certain
that the contemplated work is structurally sound. Where necessary,
he shall require suitable footings.
A.
The Building Inspector shall determine that the method
or manner of emptying the pool and the connections of such drain to
the sanitary sewer, storm sewer or open stream or upon the land is
not contrary to the public interest, or maintenance of the public
sanitary sewer system or storm sewer system, or to other property
owners.
B.
After investigation and upon such advice and assistance
from the Township Engineer and other township officials as the Building
Inspector may deem necessary, the Building Inspector shall issue the
permit.
All swimming pools shall be constructed of materials
so that they shall be waterproof and easily cleaned. Construction
and design shall be such that they may be maintained and operated
as to be clean and sanitary at all times. The owner of every private
swimming pool shall be responsible to maintain said pool in such condition
as to prevent breaks in the pool chassis or water from the pool overflowing
onto adjacent property. Footings shall be provided to adequately carry
the proposed structure. If concrete blocks are used in construction,
they must be laid with masonry wall reinforcement (Durowall or equal)
every second course of blocks. There must be a minimum footing under
block walls and poured concrete walls of eight inches by 14 inches
with two reinforcing rods 3/8 inch in diameter.
There shall be no physical connection between
a potable public or private water supply system and such private swimming
pools or wading pools at a point below the maximum waterline of the
pool or to a recirculating or heating system of said pool.
The discharge of water from private swimming
pools into the sanitary sewer system shall be permitted only after
a plumbing permit for the same has been regularly applied for and
received in accordance with the Township Plumbing Code,[1] and such other township ordinances as may apply. Approval
of an application shall not be given if it is feasible to discharge
water from a pool into a storm sewer or stream, or to use such water
for lawn sprinkling.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 96, Plumbing Code.
Where approval is obtained to discharge water
from a private swimming pool or wading pool into the sanitary sewerage
system, the owner, lessee or occupant of said pool may discharge the
water only at the time or times designated and allocated by the Plumbing
Inspector[1] and endorsed on the permit. The purpose of this requirement
is to prevent a strain upon the sewer system by controlling and distributing
the discharge of water.
[1]
Editor's Note: As to the Plumbing Inspector,
see Ch. 98, Plumbing Inspector and Board of Examiners.
[Amended 6-12-1973 by Ord. No. 880; 7-13-1976 by Ord. No. 954]
No private swimming pool shall be constructed
nearer than 10 feet to a property line, nor eight feet to a cellar,
basement or foundation of a structure, the floor of which is more
than three feet below the ground, nor 35 feet to a dwelling house
or apartment on a neighboring property, nor shall it be constructed
in the front yard of the property. Accessory buildings such as locker
rooms, bathhouses, cabanas, shower rooms, toilets and other physical
facilities or equipment incident to the operation of any private swimming
pool shall conform to the requirements of the Township Building and
Zoning Codes.
Every private swimming pool shall be completely
surrounded by a fence. Every person maintaining a private swimming
pool shall keep the gate closed and securely locked at all times when
said pool is not in use by the person maintaining the same, his family
or his guests. Within 30 days after the effective date of this ordinance,
any person maintaining a private swimming pool within the limits of
Springfield Township which has been constructed prior thereto shall
erect a fence surrounding said pool.
[Amended 7-12-1977 by Ord. No. 977]
A.
All electrical work performed in connection with a
pool installation shall comply with the National Electrical Code,
and in particular with Article 680, Paragraphs 680-1 through 680-31,
and Article 250, Paragraph 250-113. Upon completion of the pool, a
copy of the approval of the electrical installation from an authorized
electrical inspection agency shall be submitted to the Building Inspector
prior to use of the swimming pool.
B.
No artificial lighting shall be maintained or operated
in connection with private swimming pools in such a manner as to be
a nuisance or an annoyance to neighboring properties.
Every private swimming pool shall be equipped
with a life ring, life belt or life preserver available for emergency
use.
All private swimming pools shall be drained
and maintained free of water during the period that the property is
vacant.
A.
Every private swimming pool constructed, installed,
established or maintained or to be constructed, installed, established
or maintained in the Township of Springfield shall, at all times,
comply with the requirements of the local Board of Health. Any nuisance
or hazard to health which may exist or develop in or in consequence
of or in connection with any such private swimming pool shall be abated
and removed by the owner, lessee or occupant of the premises on which
said pool is located within 10 days of receipt of notice from the
Building Inspector or the Health Officer of the Township of Springfield.
It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector and the Health Officer,
respectively, to enforce the provisions of this ordinance.
B.
The Building Inspector and/or Health Officer or any
of their assistants or deputies shall have the right to enter any
premises or any building or other structure for the performance of
their duties to ascertain compliance with this ordinance.
Whenever the owner of any swimming pool about
to be or in the course of being erected or altered takes exception
to the decision of the Building Inspector in refusing to approve the
issuance of a permit or in refusing to approve the manner of construction
or the kinds of materials to be used in the construction or alteration
or to his decision as to its safety or its compliance with the provisions
of this ordinance, such owners or their duly authorized attorney or
agent may, within 10 days after such decision, take an appeal therefrom
to the Committee of Building Regulations of the Board of Township
Commissioners. Such appeal shall be in writing, shall state the decision
of the Building Inspector and the reasons for the exception taken
thereto, shall be verified by affidavit and shall be filed with the
Township Secretary. The person appealing shall have the right to appear
and to be heard, if he states his desire so to do in his written appeal.
A prompt decision of such appeal shall be made by the Committee on
Building Regulations or Board of Commissioners and shall be duly recorded
and the decision shall be final.
