5 rules for unincorporated Seminole County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Yes. Building a residential swimming pool in unincorporated Seminole County requires a Florida Building Code permit through the Building Division, plus periodic inspections. Repairing, resurfacing, or replacing a pool also needs a permit.
Florida's FS 515 Pool Safety Act requires a residential pool barrier at least 4 feet high on the outside with no gaps a child could crawl under, squeeze through, or climb over. Seminole County enforces this through the Building Division.
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/windows, self-closing self-latching doors, or a pool alarm.
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.
Above-ground residential pools in Seminole County still need a Florida Building Code permit and must meet the FS 515 safety-barrier rules. The pool's own structure may serve as the barrier if its walls are at least 4 feet high with no easy footholds.
FS 515.29(3)
An aboveground pool structure may be used as its barrier or may be surrounded by a barrier as specified in this section. If an aboveground pool structure is used as a barrier, any ladder or steps must be capable of being secured, locked, or removed to prevent access.
Residential spas and hot tubs need a Florida Building Code permit through Seminole County. A spa with a lockable safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is exempt from the pool-barrier requirement under FS 515.29; otherwise the pool safety rules apply.
FS 515.29(2)
A hot tub or spa with a lockable safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346, as adopted in the Florida Building Code, is exempt from the barrier requirements of this section.
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