Illinois requires pool enclosures meeting the state Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Code, with statewide minimum barrier rules for public pools and statutory residential standards.
The Illinois Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Act (210 ILCS 125) and the Department of Public Health rules at 77 Ill. Adm. Code 820 require all public, semi-public, and certain residential pools to have barriers at least 42 inches high (4 feet for many residential), with self-closing, self-latching gates and limited openings. The Capital Development Board has adopted the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code statewide for design and construction. Municipalities issuing pool permits must apply at least these minimum standards and cannot waive the state requirements.
Operating a public or semi-public pool without a compliant barrier is a Class A misdemeanor and can lead to closure orders by IDPH under 210 ILCS 125/15, plus civil penalties for noncompliant residential installations under local building code enforcement.
See how Urbana's pool barriers rules stack up against other locations.
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