Fairfax County, VA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Fairfax County, VA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Governs
- Licensed home child care facilities
- Requirement
- Lock or remove pool ladder
- Section
- § 30-3-6(r)(1)
- Enforced by
- Office for Children inspections
Summary
Licensed Fairfax County home child care facilities must lock or store the ladder on any above-ground pool so children in care cannot reach the water unsupervised.
Access to the water in above-ground swimming pools shall be prevented by locking and securing the ladder in place or storing the ladder in a place inaccessible to children.(2)A non-climbable barrier at least four feet high such as, but not limited to, a fence or impenetrable hedge shall surround outdoor play areas located within 30 feet of drowning hazards such as, but not limited to, in-ground swimming or wading pools, ponds, or fountains not enclosed by safety fences.(3)Portable wading pools without integral filter systems shall be emptied, rinsed, and filled with clean water after use by each group of children or more frequently as necessary; and shall be emptied, sanitized, and stored in a position to keep them clean and dry when not in use during the home child care facility's hours of operation. Portable wading pools shall not be used by children who are not toilet trained. Bathtubs, buckets, and other containers of liquid accessible to children shall be emptied immediately after use.(4)Hot tubs, spas, and whirlpools shall not be used by children in care, and shall be covered with safety covers while children are in care. (4-01-30; 19-10-30; 16-11-30; 32-12-30; 22-15-30; 22-16-30; 36-24-30.)
Section 30-3-6.1 - Home child care facility fire safety requirements.
Full Breakdown
Fairfax County's home child care standards address above-ground pools directly: under Section 30-3-6(r)(1), providers must prevent children from reaching the water by locking and securing the pool ladder in place or storing it where children cannot access it. This rule sits inside Chapter 30's physical-facility standards for licensed home child care facilities and is checked by the Office for Children through the annual permit and inspection process; it does not create a general permit or fencing requirement for an above-ground pool at a home without a child care license.
Violations & Fines
A provider whose above-ground pool ladder is left accessible to children in care risks a citation during inspection and can jeopardize renewal of the home child care facility permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fairfax County require a permit for a backyard above-ground pool?
What must a home child care provider do with an above-ground pool?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax County
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