5 rules for unincorporated Escambia County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Residential pools in unincorporated Escambia County need a county building permit under the Florida Building Code. Before final inspection and a certificate of completion, the pool must have at least one state-required safety feature.
FS 515.27(1)
In order to pass final inspection and receive a certificate of completion, a residential swimming pool must meet at least one of the following requirements relating to pool safety features:
Under Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, a pool barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside, have no gaps a child could pass through, and gates must be self-closing and self-latching.
FS 515.29
The barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside... Gates that provide access to swimming pools must open outward away from the pool and be self-closing and equipped with a self-latching locking device, the release mechanism of which must be located on the pool side of the gate.
A new residential pool in Escambia County must have at least one safety feature: a 4-foot barrier, an approved safety cover, exit alarms on doors/windows, self-closing self-latching door devices, or an in-pool alarm.
FS 515.27(1)-(2)
All doors and windows providing direct access from the home to the pool must be equipped with an exit alarm that has a minimum sound pressure rating of 85 dB A at 10 feet... A person who fails to equip a new residential swimming pool with at least one pool safety feature... commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Above-ground pools holding water over 24 inches deep are 'residential swimming pools' under Florida law, so the same barrier and safety-feature rules apply. A county building permit is still required.
FS 515.25
"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.
Hot tubs and nonportable spas holding water over 24 inches deep are 'residential swimming pools' under Florida law. An approved safety pool cover satisfies the safety-feature requirement for a hot tub.
FS 515.27(1)(b)
The pool must be equipped with an approved safety pool cover.
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