Updated as of June 2018
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Any structure or form capable of containing a volume of water in excess of 18 inches in depth and having any horizontal dimension in excess of eight feet measured along the surface of the water at its maximum depth, used for swimming, wading or similar activity, whether above or below ground level.
A swimming pool is deemed to be a structure, by this chapter, whether above, below or partially below ground level, in excess of 18 inches in depth, designed to contain water, and at least eight feet in diameter, width or length measured to and from the water’s edge and, in all respects, shall comply with the following regulations:
[Added 1-14-1981 by Ord. No. 80-38]
Construction permits and registration.
Construction permits shall be required for the erection, construction or placement of all swimming pools, and registration shall be required for all swimming pools existing on the effective date of this chapter for which a construction permit or registration was not previously issued, and applications for such permits and registration shall be accompanied by a site plan, drawn to scale, showing thereon or accompanied by the following:
Any dwelling on the lot or other buildings, as well as fences, walls, walks, paved areas and property lines, together with the name and address of the property owner shown thereon;
On adjacent properties, all dwellings or other buildings, fences, walls and paved areas, together with the names and addresses of property owners or tenants;
The type, height and location of the fence or other enclosure, required herein, which is or will be around the swimming pool;
The zoning district in which the property is located;
A copy of any variance or conditional use which may have been granted in connection with the swimming pool; and
An application fee of $20 which shall cover possible changes made in or around the pool.
No construction permit shall be issued and no existing pool shall be used where any proposed or existing swimming pool is in violation with any building, plumbing, zoning, electrical or other applicable codes or ordinances of the Township of Pennsauken.
Location of swimming pools.
No swimming pool shall be located closer to the foundation wall of a dwelling than 15 feet or closer to any property line than a distance equal to one and one-half (1 1/2) times the depth of the deepest part of the swimming pool, notwithstanding the depth or width of any applicable required yard.
[Amended 5-11-1994 by Ord. No. 94-30]
No decks, walks, aprons or other appurtenances of a swimming pool shall be closer than five feet to a dwelling, other structure or property line, but bathhouses and other buildings shall abide by the yard requirements of the district.
Drainage of swimming pools.
No swimming pool drain or overflow outlet shall be connected with any sanitary sewer line.
Swimming pool drains and overflow outlets shall connect with a stormwater sewer system or natural drainage course, if available nearby, otherwise into a public street, but in no case shall any drainage be allowed in a natural drainage course or public street when the air temperature is below 40º F. or when such drainage would cause flooding of properties adjacent to the public street or natural watercourse.
No drainage from a swimming pool shall be permitted to flow upon or across another property.
Health requirements.
Water supply. There shall be no physical connection between a swimming pool and potable water supply system at a point below the highest water level in the swimming pool or to a recirculation or heating system, and no pool water shall be permitted to discharge, leak or siphon into a potable water supply system.
Water supply. The physical, chemical and bacterial qualities of the swimming pool water shall comply at all times with the latest requirements of the American Public Health Association, New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection and the Camden County Health Department.
Design requirements. Swimming pools shall be so designed and constructed as to facilitate emptying and cleaning and shall be maintained and operated in such a manner as to be clean and sanitary at all times. The inlets of the swimming pool shall be so located and spaced as to secure satisfactory dispersion of inflowing water through the pool and to permit draining, cleaning and disinfecting of the bottom and sides of the pool.
Fences and enclosures.
All swimming pools shall be enclosed by a fence, wall or enclosure not less than six feet in height and of sufficient strength and construction to prevent all persons, especially children, and animals from unauthorized entry into the swimming pool area, and such fences, walls or enclosures shall be made of durable materials consistent with the aesthetics of the surrounding buildings. The required fence, wall or enclosure shall not be closer to the water’s edge at any point than four feet. Enclosures which cover the entire swimming pool area for use during inclement weather shall not preclude the need for the above fence or wall, unless such enclosure is made of structural materials such as wood, stone, metal or glass, and in no case shall any type of enclosure exceed 12 feet in height, unless a part of a building.
[Amended 5-11-1994 by Ord. No. 94-30]
All fences and enclosures shall have gates or doors, and no gate or door shall be permitted without locking devices which shall be locked at all times when the swimming pool is not supervised or otherwise being used or attended.
[Amended 5-11-1994 by Ord. No. 94-30]
Aboveground swimming pools that incorporate a fence attached to the pool as part of its design from the manufacturer, that has a distance of six feet in height when measured from the ground to the top of the fence and provide gates or doors as required in Subsection K(5)(b) above, should be deemed to be in compliance with Subsection K(5)(a) and (b) above.
[Amended 5-11-1994 by Ord. No. 94-30]
Portable or above-grade swimming pools shall comply in all respects with the above fence, wall or enclosure requirements.
Electrical installations.
Lighting. No artificial lighting shall be located, maintained or operated in such a manner as to cause glare upon or otherwise comprise a nuisance to an abutting property.
All electrical circuits and outlets shall be provided with approved ground fault interrupters (GFI) and otherwise meet all applicable codes of Pennsauken Township and the State of New Jersey, and under no circumstances shall an electric outlet be permitted over any part of a swimming pool or within six feet of the water.
[Amended 5-11-1994 by Ord. No. 94-30]
General provisions concerning swimming pools.
The Camden County Department of Health shall have jurisdiction over any health or sanitary condition concerning swimming pools.
Owners of swimming pools shall make necessary arrangements for routine inspection of the pool by the County Health Officer or the Township Construction Official at any reasonable time, to assure that all safety and health measures herein are met.
All appurtenant structures and facilities related to the swimming pool shall be shown on the site plan and shall comply with all Township codes and regulations.
Commercial swimming pools. The provisions of Subsection K(2)(a) hereinabove to the contrary notwithstanding, the following shall apply to commercial swimming pools, such as at motels, swim clubs, residential clubs, public recreation areas and the like:
The swimming pool shall be not less than 35 feet from the nearest building foundation on the same premises.
The swimming pool shall be not less than 75 feet from any dwelling on an adjacent property.
The water’s edge of the swimming pool shall be not less than 25 feet from any property line.
The deck, walks, aprons and other paved areas may extend into the required yards but not closer to the property line than 10 feet, but other appurtenances such as bathhouses and other buildings shall abide by the yard requirements of the district.
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.
