Chapter 15.24
SWIMMING POOL FENCING
Sections:
15.24.010 Definitions and applicability of provisions.
15.24.020 Pool – Construction permit required – Issuance conditions – Inspection before use.
15.24.030 Pool – Enclosure required – Specifications.
15.24.040 Enclosure – Gate and door specifications.
15.24.050 Compliance required when.
15.24.060 Enclosure – Time limit for construction.
15.24.070 Violations – Penalties.
15.24.010 Definitions and applicability of provisions.
A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply only to “private pools” and shall not apply to semi-public pools or public pools.
B. “Private pool” means a swimming pool, wading pool or spray pool maintained by an individual for the use of his family and friends.
C. “Public pool” includes any swimming or wading pool owned or operated by the state of Washington or any of its political subdivisions or is a pool generally available to the general public upon the payment of a specific admission charge for the use of the same and includes pools maintained by hotels, motels or private clubs as an additional facility for members or guests where the same is 1,500 square feet or more in surface area.
D. “Semi-public pool” means a pool provided by a hotel, motel or private club as an additional facility for members or guests where the same is less than 1,500 square feet in surface area. (Ord. 1402 § 1, 1962; Ord. 1370 § 5, 1961).
15.24.020 Pool – Construction permit required – Issuance conditions – Inspection before use.
No swimming pool shall be constructed without first obtaining a building permit. No building permit shall be issued until the plans filed with the building inspector’s office show full compliance with this chapter and no pool shall be used until final inspection is made by said building inspector after construction is completed in accordance herewith. (Ord. 1370 § 1, 1961).
15.24.030 Pool – Enclosure required – Specifications.
Every person, firm or corporation in possession of land within the corporate limits of the city, either as owner, purchaser, under contract, lessee, tenant, or licensee, upon which is situated, a swimming pool or other outside body of water designed for swimming, dipping or immersion purposes of a depth of more than 18 inches, shall maintain on the lot and completely surrounding said pool or other body of water, an enclosure consisting of a fence which if constructed with woven wire shall be in a pattern and type and if built of wood to be built of a vertical member type, both sides to be such as to discourage children climbing and acceptable to the building inspector of the city, or wall not less than four feet in height, above the underlying ground base, incapable of being crawled under, and sufficient to make such body of water inaccessible to small children, with openings, holes or gaps therein no larger than four inches in any dimension except for doors or gates. Provided, however, that in the event a picket fence is used, the openings between the pickets shall not exceed four inches in width; provided further, that a dwelling house or accessory building may be used as a part of such enclosure. (Ord. 1370 § 1, 1961).
15.24.040 Enclosure – Gate and door specifications.
All gates or doors opening through such enclosure shall be equipped with a self-closing and self-locking device installed at least 40 inches above the ground or base, designed to help, and capable of keeping such door or gate securely closed at all times when not in actual use; provided, however, that the door of any dwelling occupied by human beings and forming any part of the enclosure herein required, need not be so equipped. (Ord. 1370 § 1, 1961).
15.24.050 Compliance required when.
Any persons now maintaining pools for swimming, dipping or immersion having a depth of more than 18 inches shall comply with the provisions of this chapter within 90 days after the effective date of the ordinance codified herein. (Ord. 1370 § 2, 1961).
15.24.060 Enclosure – Time limit for construction.
Any person obtaining a building permit for the construction of a pool as herein defined, shall complete the construction of the fence and gates required herein within 60 days after the date of issuance of the permit. (Ord. 1370 § 3, 1961).
15.24.070 Violations – Penalties.
Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions contained in this chapter shall be subject to the enforcement provisions contained in MVMC Title 19, Code Enforcement. (Ord. 3440 § 17, 2008).