Oak Lawn's Swimming Pools & Spas: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles swimming pools & spas a little differently. In Oak Lawn, Illinois, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Fencing & Safety Requirements

Oak Lawn requires every swimming pool to be enclosed by fencing as a safety measure, six feet high with a self-closing, locking gate for permanent pools, four feet for temporary ones, under Village Code § 6-12-3.

Key details: Permanent pool fence height: 6 feet minimum. Gate latch height: 4.5 feet above grade. Temporary pool fence height: 4 feet minimum. Fence exemption: pools under 24 inches deep. No filtration system: must empty pool weekly.

The Electrical Inspection Department and Office of Quality Control enforce pool permit, fencing, and sanitation standards, and can order an unfenced, unpermitted, or unsanitary pool corrected under the Village's building code enforcement provisions.

Pool Permits

Above-ground and below-ground pools alike need an electrical permit and a no-fee swimming pool inspection permit from Oak Lawn's electrical inspection department, plus a four-foot fence unless the pool sits under 24 inches tall.

Key details: Electrical permit: Required for all pools. Inspection permit: Required, no fee charged. Fence height: 4 ft minimum, self-latching gate. Fence exemption: Pools under 24 inches tall.

Building without the required electrical or swimming pool inspection permit, or without the mandated pool fence, is a code violation the village's building and electrical inspection departments can cite and require correction for.

The Bottom Line

Oak Lawn'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 Oak Lawn is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Oak Lawn's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.