Updated as of June 2018
www.ecode360.com
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
All contiguous property of the same ownership.
Includes any swimming or bathing pools or tanks, whether permanently installed, portable, collapsible or otherwise, having either an inside structural depth in excess of 24 inches or a surface area in excess of 120 square feet or capacity in excess of 1,800 gallons, constructed or maintained on any lot by any person for the use of himself or any one or more members of his family or guests of himself or his family.
508-2Permit required; fee; submission of plans.
No person shall install or construct a private swimming pool within the Township of Bloomfield without first having obtained a permit from the Building Inspector and having paid a fee of $5 therefor.
All applications for a permit to construct a private swimming pool shall be made on such forms as may be required by the Chief Building Inspector and shall be accompanied by three sets of plans of sufficient detail prepared by the owner, professional engineer or licensed architect, showing the plot plan, drawn to scale, and including the lot size, location of structures on the lot, topography, pool, walks, fencing, drainage, water supply, electrical facilities, filters, heating system, if any, and disinfecting system. All plans submitted for in-ground pools must be prepared by a licensed professional engineer or licensed architect.
The Building Inspector shall issue a permit for the construction or installation of a private swimming pool, provided that the same complies with the provisions of this chapter, the Building Code[1] and other ordinances of the Township of Bloomfield and provided, further, that the application for the same has been approved, in writing, by the Health Department and the Township Engineer of the Township of Bloomfield.
Editor’s Note: See Ch. 149, Building Construction.
In-ground pools shall be enclosed with a fence at least four feet in height. Aboveground pools need not be enclosed.
508-5Materials and construction.
All private swimming pools shall be constructed and installed in such manner as to be waterproof and susceptible to being readily cleaned. All aboveground pools shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
All electric wiring installed shall be installed and used in conjunction with private residential swimming pools in conformity with National Electric Code standards, and the materials used or installed shall be as approved by National Underwriters’ Laboratory.
No electric wires or conductors shall be installed or permitted to remain in such a position as to cross, either overhead or underground, any part of a private residential swimming pool, nor shall any electric wiring be installed parallel to any pool wall closer than five feet thereto, except if such wiring is both located underground and enclosed in rigid conduits.
All metal fences, enclosures or railings which are located near or adjacent to private residential swimming pools and which might become electrically alive as a result of contact with broken overhead conductors or from any other cause shall be effectively grounded.
Physical connections between potable water systems and a permanent private swimming pool or its circulation systems shall not be permitted. Potable water for makeup and filling purposes shall be introduced into a pool by means of a discharge pipe or hose turned downward either over a float-controlled surge tank or over the pool itself, having in either case an air gap of at least six inches between the orifice of the discharge pipe or hose and the pool or tank overflow level.
No water from the public water supply shall be placed in or allowed to flow into any swimming pool after a proclamation by the Mayor and Council that a water shortage exists or until such time as said water shortage is declared to have ended.
All discharge of water from filters and swimming pools shall be drained into a dry well or to the Township’s storm sewer system either by direct connection or temporary hose laid to the nearest catch basin by an approved method and trapped against backflow for permanent installation. Swimming pools may be drained directly to the street.
All private swimming pools shall be so constructed, installed and maintained so as to provide equipment necessary for the chlorination or other disinfection, filtration and recirculation of the pool water so as to comply with approved bacteriological standards which may be promulgated by regulation issued by the Board of Health of the Township of Bloomfield, the State of New Jersey or other authorities having jurisdiction.
All private swimming pools shall be constructed, installed or maintained in the rear yard of the lot, and no pool shall be closer to any neighboring structure than 10 feet.
All outside lights for illumination of the pool shall be so installed and maintained in order to eliminate glare and annoyance to adjoining properties. All such illumination shall be extinguished during those hours when the pool is not in use, and the pool must be illuminated after darkness when it is in use.
508-12Fence gates or doors; ladders.
The enclosure hereinabove mentioned shall be provided with one or more substantial gates or doors of at least the height of the fence, and said enclosure and gates or doors thereof shall be so designed and constructed as to reasonably prevent any person from gaining access beneath, through or over the same. Every gate or door of such fence shall be kept securely locked at all times when the pool is not in use. Any access ladder or steps used in connection with an aboveground pool shall be removed from the pool when the same is not is use.
508-13General standards for operation and maintenance.
If a private residential swimming pool shall be used between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., noise should be eliminated after 11:00 p.m. and, after 11:00 p.m., the volume of illumination should be reduced so as not to constitute a nuisance to neighboring residents.
All private residential swimming pools shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and all equipment shall be maintained in a satisfactory operating condition during periods when the pool is in use.
No private residential swimming pool shall be used, kept, maintained or operated in the Township if such use or operation of the same shall be the occasion of any nuisance or shall be dangerous to life or detrimental to health.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued at any private residential swimming pool any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others. In the operation of such pool, the use or operation of any radio, receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants or at any time with louder volume than is necessary for the convenient hearing of the person or persons who are in the pool shall be unlawful.
Every private residential swimming pool shall be equipped with one or more throwing ring buoys not more than 15 inches in diameter and having 60 feet of three-sixteenths-inch manila line attached and one or more light but strong poles with blunted ends and not less than 12 feet in length for making reach assists or rescues. This requirement shall not apply to aboveground swimming pools having a depth of not more than 24 inches.
No diving board or platform more than three feet above water level shall be installed for use in connection with any private residential swimming pool.
The Building Inspector, Township Engineer and Health Officer, or their representatives, shall have authority to make such inspections of the construction, maintenance and operation of the pool and surrounding area as are necessary from time to time to ascertain that there is compliance with this chapter and the requirements of the Health and Building Codes.[1]
Editor’s Note: See Part III, Board of Health Legislation, and Ch. 149, Building Construction, respectively.
508-17Violations and penalties.
[Added 11-2-1987[1]]
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in § 1-15, General penalty, of this Code.
Editor’s Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
SWIMMING POOL CODE OF NEW JERSEY (1970)
That certain code approved by the State Department of Health for adoption by reference by local boards of health in accordance with law, being a code:
Regulating and controlling the location and construction, alteration and operation of swimming pools as therein defined.
Regulating and controlling the issuance of permits and licenses to locate and construct, alter or operate swimming pools as therein defined.
Declaring and defining certain swimming pools as nuisances.
Whenever the following words, terms and phrases are used in the Swimming Pool Code of New Jersey (1970), they shall have the following meanings herein given:
The Board of Health of the Township of Bloomfield.
Includes certified mail.
664-2Adoption of standards; copies on file.
Pursuant to and in accordance with the Public Health and Sanitation Codes Adoption by Reference Act (N.J.S.A. 26:3-69.1 to 26:3-69.6), there is hereby established and adopted as the Swimming Pool Code of the Township the whole of the Swimming Pool Code of New Jersey (1970). A printed copy of said code was annexed to and incorporated by reference in this chapter.
The Swimming Pool Code of New Jersey (1970) is hereby incorporated in this chapter by reference and made a part herein as fully as though it had been set forth at length herein.
In accordance with law, three printed copies of the Swimming Pool Code of New Jersey (1970) have been placed on file in the office of the Secretary of the Board of Health and shall remain on file in said office for the use and examination of the public so long as this chapter shall remain in effect.
664-3Permits and licenses required.
No person shall locate and construct, alter or operate a swimming pool until the permits or license therefor as required by the Swimming Pool Code of New Jersey (1970) shall have been issued by the Board of Health.
The following fees are hereby established:
For the issuance of a permit to locate and construct a swimming pool: $10.
For the issuance of a permit to alter a swimming pool: $10.
For the issuance of an annual license to operate a swimming pool: $25. Applications for license renewals received on or after May 15 will be assessed a late fee of $10.
[Amended 12-6-1994]
664-5Expiration and renewal of licenses.
Licenses issued for the operation of swimming pools shall expire on March 31 following the date of issuance.
Applications for license renewals, together with the required license fee, shall be submitted 30 days prior to opening the pool.
664-6Denial or suspension of permit or license.
A permit or license required under this chapter may be denied or suspended by the Board of Health for failure to comply with any provision of this chapter, including the Swimming Pool Code of New Jersey (1970) incorporated herein by reference.
The person whose license has been denied or suspended shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard in a public hearing and, following this, to be informed of the decision of the Board of Health as provided in Section 2 of the Swimming Pool Code of New Jersey (1970).
664-7Violations and penalties.
[Amended 12-6-1994]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to the provisions of Chapter 578, Article V.
For more information on New Jersey pool fencing laws and regulations, or if you are interested in what designs work best around your pool, visit Carl’s at www.bycarls.com or call 732-504-3372.
