Manchester, NH Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 91.44
- Applies to
- Public pools/spas, not single-family homes
- No-lifeguard sign letters
- At least 4 inches tall
- Required rescue gear
- Crook, ring buoy, backboard, first aid kit
- Enforcement
- Health Department, annual permit
Summary
Manchester requires lifeguards at public pools to hold Red Cross- or YMCA-equivalent senior lifesaving training, or the operator must post a 4-inch-letter no-lifeguard warning sign.
In public pools, supervision of bathers shall be provided in accordance with the following standards: (A) Where lifeguard service is provided, the lifeguard shall have satisfactorily completed a senior course of instruction in lifesaving and water safety equivalent to that offered by the American Red Cross or the YMCA. (B) Where no lifeguard service is provided, a warning sign shall be placed in plain view which shall state "WARNING - NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY" with clearly legible letters at least four inches in height.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 91.44, public pools (this subchapter excludes single-family and duplex residential pools per § 91.35) that provide lifeguard service must staff lifeguards who completed a senior lifesaving and water-safety course equivalent to the American Red Cross or YMCA standard. Pools without a lifeguard must post a warning sign reading "WARNING - NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY" in plain view, with letters at least four inches tall. Separately, § 91.43 requires every public pool to keep a shepherd's crook (12-foot handle), a ring buoy with rope, a spinal backboard, and a 24-unit first aid kit on site at all times, checked by the Health Department under the annual operating permit (§ 91.37).
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision carries the general penalty of § 10.99: a fine up to the maximum allowed by RSA 47:17, with each day of continued violation a separate offense; the Health Authority can also revoke or suspend the pool's operating permit under § 91.40.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to my backyard pool in Manchester?
What if a Manchester public pool has no lifeguard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
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Fencing & Safety Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle fencing & safety requirements.