Swimming Pools & Spas in Huntington, NY

Huntington maintains 128 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with swimming pools & spas. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Huntington falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Fencing & Safety Requirements

Huntington bans maintaining a swimming pool without a code-compliant fence or barrier, a self-closing, self-latching gate with a childproof lock, or leaving the gate unlocked while the pool sits unattended. The fence must meet the separate barrier standard in § 87-81.

Key details: Section: Huntington Code § 156-5. Gate requirement: Self-closing, self-latching, childproof lock. Barrier standard cross-ref: § 87-81. First-offense fine: $500 to $5,000. Enacted: L.L. No. 19-2020, amended L.L. No. 64-2021.

Violations of Article I, including § 156-5, are penalized under § 156-11: a fine of $500 to $5,000 for a first offense, $1,000 to $10,000 for a second offense within five years, and $1,500 to $15,000 for a third or subsequent offense within five years. Each day the unenclosed or unlatched condition continues after notice is a separate offense, and the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication may impose penalties within the same ranges.

Pool Permits

Any outdoor water pool deeper than two feet with a surface area over one hundred square feet needs a permit from the Director before it is built, installed, enlarged or altered in a Huntington residential zone. Skip the permit and the pool itself is unlawful under Article XI of Chapter 87, the town's outdoor pool law.

Key details: Permit issuer: The Director (Engineering Services). Regulated pool: Over 2 ft deep and 100 sq ft. Small pools: Fall outside the permit rule. Plans must show: Fence, water supply, drainage. Construction standard: Impervious, watertight materials.

Building, installing or enlarging a pool without the required Director's permit is enforced under the Chapter 87 penalty schedule at § 87-45(A): fines of $250 to $5,000 for a first offense, $1,000 to $10,000 for a second offense within five years, and $1,500 to $15,000 for a third, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Huntington's swimming pools & spas rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Huntington is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Huntington's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.