5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Osceola County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
A building permit is required to build a residential swimming pool in unincorporated Osceola County, and the pool must pass final inspection with at least one state-mandated safety feature under Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (FS 515.27) before a certificate of completion is issued.
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:
If you use a barrier to satisfy Florida's pool-safety law, it must be at least 4 feet high on the outside, surround the pool's perimeter, and be positioned so no permanent structure or object can be used to climb over it.
FS 515.29
The barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside. The barrier must be placed around the perimeter of the pool... A barrier may not be located in a way that allows any permanent structure, equipment, or similar object to be used for climbing the barrier.
Every new residential pool in unincorporated Osceola County must have at least one of five state safety features: a barrier, an approved safety cover, exit alarms, self-closing/self-latching doors, or an ASTM-certified pool alarm.
FS 515.27(1)(c)-(d)
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 self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor.
Above-ground pools that hold water more than 24 inches deep are covered by Florida's pool-safety law just like inground pools, so they need a permit and at least one approved safety feature. Small portable pools 24 inches or shallower are excluded.
FS 515.25(6)
"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.
Under Florida law, hot tubs and nonportable spas count as swimming pools, so a residential unit over 24 inches deep needs a permit and a safety feature. A locking safety cover is the most common way to comply.
FS 515.25(6)
"Swimming pool" means any structure... that... contains water over 24 inches deep, including, but not limited to, in-ground, aboveground, and on-ground swimming pools; hot tubs; and nonportable spas.
1 cities in Osceola County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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