5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
In the unincorporated towns Waukesha County zones, no swimming pool (above or below ground) may be built without a county zoning permit. Cities and villages like Waukesha, Brookfield and New Berlin issue their own pool permits.
Waukesha County Basic Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3.19(2)
No Swimming Pool shall be constructed unless a zoning permit has been issued pursuant to Section 3.03 of this Ordinance.
Waukesha County zoning requires walls or fences at least four feet high around the immediate pool area to deter unsupervised children. Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code does not itself impose a residential pool-barrier rule, so this county/municipal fence standard controls.
Waukesha County Basic Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3.19(1)(C)
Walls or fences of at least four (4) feet in height shall be provided around the immediate area of the pool to act as a deterrent for unsupervised children gaining access.
County zoning requires a four-foot barrier around the pool and, for above-ground pools, a ladder designed to be locked, tipped or placed to prohibit child access. Public pools carry stricter state safety-barrier rules under SPS 390.
Waukesha County Basic Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3.19(1)(C)
If an access ladder is provided, it shall be so designed so that it can be locked, tipped or otherwise placed to prohibit access to the pool by children.
Above-ground pools are permitted in most Waukesha County zoning districts. No separate fence is needed if the pool walls are at least four feet above grade and extend at least five feet from the pool, but a lockable ladder is still required.
Waukesha County Basic Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3.19(1)(C)
Where the pool is an above ground pool, no additional fence or wall shall be required if the walls of the pool are at least four (4) feet above the grade of the land completely surrounding it and extending at least five (5) feet from the walls of the pool.
Waukesha County does not set a separate hot-tub ordinance. Because the zoning code defines a swimming pool as water more than thirty inches deep, most spas fall below that threshold; a permanent hot tub is a structure and must meet district setbacks, and electrical work follows Wisconsin code.
Waukesha County Basic Zoning Ordinance Sec. 2.02(138)
Swimming Pool: A Structure, designed to hold water more than thirty (30) inches deep for the purpose of swimming.
3 cities in Waukesha County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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