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Anne Arundel County, MD Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Lifeguard ratio
1 per 50 swimmers in water
Required onsite gear
AED, first aid kit, rescue pole, backboard
Supervisor certification
Current CPR and first-aid cert required
Enforcing agency
Anne Arundel County Health Officer
First violation fine
$125 (Class D civil offense)

Summary

Public and semi-public pools in Anne Arundel County must staff lifeguards on a set ratio to swimmers and keep an AED and CPR-certified staff onsite, enforced by the Health Officer.

City-specific rules exist: Annapolis has its own fencing & safety requirements rules that differ from Anne Arundel County's county-level regulations. If you live in Annapolis, check the city-specific page instead.

(b) Lifeguards. Except as provided in subsection (d), a public pool may be operated only under the active, onsite supervision and under the direct observation of a lifeguard. The number of lifeguards required shall be determined by the following table: Number of Persons in Water — Number of Lifeguards: 1 to 50 — 1; 51 to 100 — 2; 101 to 150 — 3; for each additional 50 persons — 1.

Source: Anne Arundel County Residential Code (pool barrier); federal VGB Act (public pools)View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Under County Code § 11-14-304, a public pool may only operate under a lifeguard's active, onsite supervision: one lifeguard per 50 swimmers, scaling up by one for each additional 50. The same person may not act as operator and lifeguard at once. Every public or semi-public pool must have a CPR/first-aid-certified supervisor, a first aid kit, an AED, a rescue pole, rescue tube, backboard, and an onsite phone. Owners must also keep the pool and bathhouse areas free of hazards under § 11-14-303(b). Violations of Article 11's licensing article, including these safety-personnel rules, are a Class D civil offense under § 11-1-105 and § 9-2-201, and the Health Officer can immediately suspend a pool's license under § 11-14-204(d) if inspectors find an immediate threat to patron safety.

Violations & Fines

Class D civil offense: $125 first violation, $500 second, $1,000 third or later; license can be suspended immediately for an imminent safety hazard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this lifeguard rule apply to a private backyard pool?
No. § 11-14-304 governs public and semi-public pools only; private single-family pools are exempt from the lifeguard and equipment rules.
Can a hotel pool skip the lifeguard requirement?
Yes, if the pool is under 2,500 sq ft and 5 feet deep and used only by registered guests or health-club members, per § 11-14-304(d).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Anne Arundel County

All Anne Arundel County rules

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