Hot tubs and spas in the City of Franklin are governed by the City-adopted International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (2018 ISPSC pre-1/1/2026, 2024 ISPSC via Ordinance 2025-37 thereafter). Permanent residential spas must comply with ANSI/APSP/ICC-3 (ISPSC Chapter 6) and portable spas with ANSI/APSP/ICC-3 standards for portable units. Per ISPSC Section 305.6, spas or hot tubs equipped with a safety cover complying with ASTM F 1346 are exempt from the otherwise-required 48-inch pool barrier. Building permits are required for installation and a separate electrical permit is required for the bonding, GFCI, and dedicated circuit work.
The City of Franklin's adoption of the ISPSC (Title 12, Chapter 7 of the Franklin Municipal Code, with Ordinance 2025-37 adopting the 2024 edition effective 1/1/2026) governs spa and hot tub installation. ISPSC Chapter 6 (Residential Spas and Hot Tubs) provides the dimensional and design standards: permanent residential spas must be designed and constructed in compliance with ANSI/APSP/ICC-3 (Permanently Installed Residential Spas), and portable residential spas with the applicable APSP standard. The barrier exemption in ISPSC Section 305.6 (Spas and hot tubs) states that a spa or hot tub with a safety cover complying with ASTM F 1346 is exempt from the perimeter-barrier requirements of Section 305. ASTM F 1346 covers must support a static load (485 lb for residential covers) and restrict access by children. Without such a cover, the spa or hot tub must meet the full 48-inch barrier requirements of Section 305. The Franklin Zoning Ordinance treats spas and hot tubs as swimming pools for setback purposes, requiring 5 feet from any lot line and 10 feet behind the front facade, with no installation in easements. The City's Swimming Pool Procedures document apply to 'an outdoor swimming pool, including an in-ground, aboveground or on-ground pool, hot tub or spa,' meaning the same barrier and inspection rules apply. Electrical work (bonding per NEC 680, GFCI protection, dedicated circuit) requires a separate electrical permit under the City-adopted National Electrical Code (2017 NEC for plans pre-1/1/2026, 2023 NEC thereafter).
Installing a hot tub without a permit violates Title 12, Chapter 7 of the Franklin Municipal Code. Operating a hot tub without either a 48-inch barrier or an ASTM F 1346 cover violates ISPSC Section 305. Electrical violations (improper bonding, missing GFCI, no dedicated circuit) are cited by the City electrical inspector and can result in disconnection of power. A spa cover that has degraded and no longer meets ASTM F 1346 means the spa is no longer exempt and the property must install a compliant barrier or replace the cover.
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