South Jordan, UT Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Federal law
- VGB Act (2007)
- Cover standard
- ANSI/APSP-16
- Single drains
- Need SVRS or equivalent
- Cover expiration
- Replace per manufacturer
- Inspection
- City plan review
Summary
All pool and spa drains in South Jordan must comply with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act: anti-entrapment covers and, where required, secondary safety systems.
Ensure Compliance: Ensure all pools and spas have compliant drain covers. Virginia Graeme Baker, after whom the Pool and Spa Safety Act is named, died from drowning due to a suction entrapment from a faulty drain cover. All public pools and spas must have drain grates or covers that meet safety standards to avoid incidents like the one that took Graeme's life... Install Safety Devices: Install proper barriers, covers and alarms. Proper fences, barriers, alarms and covers can be lifesaving devices. A fence of at least four feet in height should surround the pool or spa on all sides and should not be climbable for children. The water should only be accessible through a self-closing, self-latching gate. Know Your Drains: Teach children to stay away from drains. Do not play or swim near drains or suction outlets, especially in spas and shallow pools, and never enter a pool or spa that has a loose, broken or missing drain cover. Children's hair, limbs, jewelry or bathing suits can get stuck in a drain or suction opening.
Full Breakdown
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is federal law that applies to every public and most residential pools and spas built or substantially remodeled since 2008. South Jordan's plumbing and building code enforcement ensures VGB compliance at plan review and inspection. All suction outlets must use an ANSI/APSP-16 compliant anti-entrapment drain cover. Any pool or spa with a single main drain must also have a secondary anti-entrapment system such as a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS), a gravity drainage system, an automatic pump shut-off, or properly designed dual drains. Drain covers have expiration dates and must be replaced when they age out or become damaged. Homeowners with pools predating 2008 are strongly encouraged to retrofit: old flat drain grates have caused fatal entrapment incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my backyard pool need a VGB drain cover?
What if my pool has only one main drain?
How often do pool drain covers need to be replaced?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Jordan
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