SWIMMING AND SPA POOL CODE

SEA-MC tit. 10, ch. 10.56

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.010 Citation.

10.56.010 - Citation. This chapter may be cited and referred to, and shall be known as the "Seattle Swimming and Spa Pool Code." (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.020 Definitions.

10.56.020 - Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires another meaning, A. "Approved" means approved, in writing, by the Director. B. "Director" means the Director of Public Health—Seattle & King County or his designee. C. "Private pool" means any swimming, wading, spa or spray pool maintained by an individual, the use of which is confined to members of his/her family or invited guests. D. "Public pool" means any swimming or spa pool, together with buildings and appurtenances in connection therewith, that is available to the general public, with or without payment of an admission charge, for the use of same; and shall include any swimming pool of fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet or more in surface area, whether or not available to the general public. E. "Semipublic pool" means any swimming or spa pool less than fifteen hundred (1,500) square feet in surface area, the use of which is provided for and limited to defined persons, or multiple-family or cooperative groups such as, but not limited to, the guests, patrons, and members of hotels, motels, mobile home parks, apartments, condominiums, subdivisions, community clubs, private clubs, institutions, and schools, and their invited guests. F. "Spa pool" means a unit designed for recreational or therapeutic use that is not drained, cleaned or refilled for each user. It may include, but not be limited to hydrojet circulation, hot water, cold water, mineral baths, air induction bubbles, or any combination thereof. Industry terminology for a spa includes, but is not limited to, "therapeutic pool," "hydrotherapy pool," "whirlpool," "hot spa," "hot tubs," etc. This definition excludes pools in medical health-care facilities licensed by the State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services or its successor. G. "Spray pool" means any pool or artificially constructed depression into which water is sprayed but is not allowed to pond in the bottom of the pool. H. "Swimming pool" means any structure, basin, chamber, or tank containing an artificial body of water for swimming, diving, or recreational bathing and having a depth of two (2) feet or more at any point and including all facilities incidental thereto. I. "Wading pool" means any artificial pool of water intended and constructed for wading purposes that is not over two (2) feet in depth at any point. (Ord. 123668, § 1, 2011; Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.030 Permit required.

10.56.030 - Permit required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a swimming or spa pool without a valid permit issued to such person by the Director. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.040 Plans and specifications for construction, alteration or renovation.

10.56.040 - Plans and specifications for construction, alteration or renovation. A. No person shall commence the construction, alteration, or renovation of any public or semipublic swimming, wading, spray, or spa pool or any appurtenance thereto, without first having obtained the Director's approval of the plans and specifications for such construction, alteration or renovation. B. 1. Plans and specifications for the construction, alteration or renovation of a public or semipublic swimming, spray, wading, or spa pool or any appurtenance thereto, shall be submitted, in duplicate, to the Director for review and approval prior to the commencement of any such construction, alteration, or renovation. Plans and specifications for new public or semipublic swimming, spray, wading or spa pools shall be prepared by an architect or professional engineer qualified in the proposed work and licensed to practice such profession under the laws of the State of Washington. Plans shall be accompanied by a plan review fee specified in SMC 10.03.056. 2. Plans shall be drawn to scale. Specifications shall include details on all recirculation and chemical equipment, including pumps, disinfection equipment, chemical feeders, filters, meters, strainers, overflow channels and/or skimming facilities and related equipment, to facilitate a comprehensive engineering review of such plans and specifications including piping and hydraulic details. If, upon examination of such plans and specifications, the Director finds that the proposed construction, alteration or renovation will comply with the provisions of this chapter and applicable departmental rules and regulations established in accordance herewith, he/she shall approve the same; otherwise such plans and specifications shall be disapproved. The Director may condition his/her approval of plans and specifications upon making of such modifications in such plans and specifications as the public health or safety may require. C. The construction, alteration or renovation of any public or semipublic swimming, wading, spray, or spa pool or appurtenance thereto shall be made only in accordance with approved plans and specifications therefor; provided, that changes or modifications in such approved plans and specifications that are consistent with the public health and safety may be made with the written approval of the director. D. Upon completion of any such construction, alteration, or modification, the owner or operator of such pool, or the agent of either, shall notify the Director of its readiness for inspection. No such pool shall be opened for use or allowed or caused to be used until it has been inspected by the Director and found to have been constructed, altered or remodeled consistent with the approved plans and specifications therefor, and to be in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and applicable rules and regulations established in accordance herewith. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.045 Operation and maintenance.

10.56.045 - Operation and maintenance. A. All public or semipublic swimming, spray, wading and spa pools and all components thereof, appurtenances thereto, and the premises thereof, shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times such pool is open to users. B. The person to whom a pool permit is issued shall be responsible for the maintenance, operation and proper use of the public or semipublic pool for which such permit is issued, and shall provide one (1) or more operators or attendants at such times as shall be necessary for the maintenance and operation of such pool in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and applicable rules and regulations established in accordance herewith. All such operators and attendants shall be familiar with the equipment and appurtenances of such pool and the principles of pool operation. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.050 Water quality.

10.56.050 - Water quality. The water in all public or semipublic swimming, spa, wading and spray pools, at all times shall meet such standards of chemical, physical and bacteriological quality as the Director shall establish, by rule, to ensure that persons using such pools shall not be exposed to toxic or irritating chemical conditions, or disease-producing organisms. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.060 Disinfection.

10.56.060 - Disinfection. A disinfecting process or procedure shall be used to maintain in all public or semipublic swimming, and wading pools, and spray pools using recirculated water, a minimum free-chlorine residual of 1.0 ppm and in spa pools, a minimum free-chlorine residual of 2.0 ppm; provided, that upon written application, the Director may approve the use of other processes or procedures found to ensure adequate and continuous disinfection of water throughout such pools during the period such pools are in use. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.070 Recirculation and filtration.

10.56.070 - Recirculation and filtration. Recirculation and filtration equipment adequate to recirculate and filter the entire volume of water at least once every six (6) hours shall be provided for every public swimming pool; and at least once every twelve (12) hours for every semipublic swimming or wading pool; and at least once every thirty (30) minutes for every spa pool. Such equipment shall be in operation at all times such pool is open for use; provided, that such recirculation and filtration equipment need not be provided for a flow-through pool in which the supply of water meets the water quality requirements of Section 10.56.050, hereof, and the disinfection requirements of Section 10.56.060, hereof; and such supply is sufficient to provide a complete change of water within the time period required by this section; and the introduction of such water supply into the pool is accomplished by the same type of inlet design required for recirculation pools. Where more than one pool is located on the same premises, each must have an independent recirculation and filtration system. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.080 Waste.

10.56.080 - Waste. All water from backwash, filter residues, and other waste in any public or semipublic pool shall be disposed of in a safe and sanitary manner approved by the Director. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.090 Cross-connections.

10.56.090 - Cross-connections. No piping arrangement shall be installed or used in any public or semipublic, spray, or wading pool such that under any condition, sewage or waste water will be permitted to enter the recirculation system of the pool, or water from the recirculation system or the pool will be permitted to enter the potable water supply or make-up water supply. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.100 Operating records.

10.56.100 - Operating records. At all public or semipublic swimming, spa, and wading pools, and spray pools using recirculating water, complete daily records shall be kept of the times each filter is backwashed or cleaned and of the results of all tests made as to water quality and disinfectant residual. Such records shall be made available at any reasonable time for examination by the Director. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 10.56.110 Alternate materials, equipment or procedures.

10.56.110 - Alternate materials, equipment or procedures. For the purpose of temporarily evaluating equipment, materials, or procedures, and to meet any temporary emergency condition, the Director, consistent with the needs of the public health and safety, may permit the use of materials, equipment and procedures not specifically prescribed by this chapter and applicable departmental rules and regulations established in accordance herewith. (Ord. 110180, § 1, 1981.)

Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT10HESA_CH10.56SWSPPOCOFetched: 11/1/2026