5 rules for unincorporated Collier County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Building a residential pool in unincorporated Collier County requires a county building permit under the Florida Building Code, applied for through Collier Growth Management. Public and community pools additionally need an annual operating permit from the Florida Department of Health under FAC 64E-9.
FAC 64E-9.001(3)
Annually, the pool owner/operator shall apply for an operating permit renewal from the department on form DH 4159. Annual operating permits expire on June 30.
Under Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (FS 515.29), a pool barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside, with no gaps a child could crawl under or through, and it must separate the pool from the home and yard.
FS 515.29(1)
The barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside. The barrier may not have any gaps, openings, indentations, protrusions, or structural components that could allow a young child to crawl under, squeeze through, or climb over the barrier.
Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (FS 515.27) requires every new residential pool to have at least one approved safety feature — a 4-foot barrier, an approved safety cover, exit alarms on doors and windows, self-latching doors, or an ASTM pool alarm — before final inspection.
FS 515.27(2)
A person who fails to equip a new residential swimming pool with at least one pool safety feature as required in subsection (1) commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Above-ground pools in unincorporated Collier County are regulated the same as in-ground pools. Under FS 515.29 the pool's own wall can serve as the safety barrier, or a barrier can be mounted on top, but it must meet all 4-foot barrier requirements, and ladders must be secured.
FS 515.29(2)
The structure of an aboveground swimming pool may be used as its barrier or the barrier for such a pool may be mounted on top of its structure; however, such structure or separately mounted barrier must meet all barrier requirements of s. 515.29.
Under FS 515.25, hot tubs and nonportable spas holding water over 24 inches deep are 'swimming pools,' so they need a Collier County permit and a FS 515.27 safety feature. An approved ASTM F1346 safety cover is one accepted way to meet the requirement.
FS 515.25(11)
"Swimming pool" means any structure, located in a residential area, that is intended for swimming or recreational bathing and contains water over 24 inches deep, including, but not limited to, in-ground, aboveground, and on-ground swimming pools; hot tubs; and nonportable spas.
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