Codified Ordinances of Cleveland pt. THREE, pt. IIIE, tit. XIII, ch. 3117 — PRIVATE SWIMMING POOLS | Codified Ordinances of the City of Cleveland, Ohio (2026 S-28: current through legislation passed October 19, 2026) — City of Cleveland

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 3117.01 Definition

§ 3117.01 Definition “Private swimming pool” as used in this Building Code means any body of water containing more than one thousand five hundred (1,500) gallons of water or having a depth of more than twenty-four (24) inches, to the top of the side wall, used or intended to be used for swimming or bathing, and constructed, installed or maintained in or above the ground on any property or premises and used solely by the owner, purchaser under contract, lessee, tenant or licensee thereof, and his or her family and by friends invited to use it without payment of any fee.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 3117.02 Application Data and Plans

§ 3117.02 Application Data and Plans (a) Application for the construction, installation or alteration and maintenance of a private swimming pool shall be made to the Commissioner by the owner, person in control of the property or by the contractor who will construct or install such swimming pool. (b) The application shall be accompanied by duplicate sets of plans, specifications and pertinent explanatory data which shall include the following plans and information, as well as such other data which may be reasonably requested by the Commissioner. (1) Plans shall be drawn to a scale of not less than one-eighth (1/8) inch per foot, indicating all materials and methods of construction and indicating all dimensions, including the length, width and depth of the pool and width of the pool deck or walk ways; (2) A plot plan showing position of pool in relation to buildings and lot lines. If the pool is not permanently fixed, the plot plan shall show the approximate location or locations in which the pool is to be placed; (3) Pipe diagrams showing size of all permanent pipes, inlets, outlets, waste and discharge lines, circulation and other piping. Where temporary piping or hose lines are used for filling or draining, explanatory data shall be supplied giving the equipment, methods and procedures to be used; (4) The liquid capacity of the pool; (5) The kind, number and size of filters; (6) Top capacity of filters in gallons per minute; (7) The method of disinfection and bactericidal treatment to be used; (8) The type and range of water testing equipment; (9) The type, design and location of enclosing fence and gate; (10) Description and plan of lighting facilities; (11) Description and plan of heating, exhaust and ventilation for interior pools. (c) No permit shall be issued by the Commissioner of Building and Housing until the application has been submitted to and approved by the Commissioner of Health in regard to subsections (b)(7) and (8) hereof.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 3117.03 Design, Construction and Maintenance Requirements

§ 3117.03 Design, Construction and Maintenance Requirements The Commissioner shall not issue a permit to construct, install, alter or remodel any private swimming pool, unless the following design and construction requirements are observed. Private swimming pools shall be constructed or installed or maintained in conformity with the following requirements. For private swimming pools already in existence, the Commissioner shall furnish the owner with a program of improvements and additions which shall be carried out over a period of one (1) year after notice, in order to comply with the requirements of this Building Code. However, permanent pools heretofore constructed shall be exempt from the requirement of subsection (g) hereof and may be exempted from the other requirements of this section when approved by the Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals as being substantially in compliance with such other requirements of this section. (a) There shall be an air gap or syphon breaker on the water supply line to the pool. (b) There shall be an overflow from the pool to the sewer. (c) A proper drain to the sewer shall be installed at the lowest part of the pool. This drain may operate either by gravity or by the use of a pump. (d) The requirements of subsections (b) and (c) hereof shall be waived for a semipermanent pool located entirely above ground level whenever there is provided a means of completely draining such pool to a public sewer by the use of suitable gravity, syphon or pumping equipment. (e) All plumbing shall meet Plumbing Code requirements. (f) The construction or design of the walls shall be in accord with accepted engineering practice. (g) The outdoor pool area shall be fenced in by an approved type of fence at least four (4) feet high, and if the fence or barricade is around the pool, it shall be located at least ten (10) feet from the edge of the pool. Such fence or barricade shall have a self-closing gate or door with facilities for locking the gate or door at all times when the pool is unguarded, unattended or not in actual use. In lieu of maintaining a fence or barricade, a semi-permanent pool located entirely above ground level may be protected, when not in use, with a secure pool cover or other protective device approved by the Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals as providing protection equivalent to a fence. Where such cover or other protective device is used in lieu of a fence, a competent person shall be on hand at all times while the pool is in use. (h) The pool shall not be located less than ten (10) feet from any property line. (i) The pool shall be equipped with a filtration system capable of providing at least two (2) turn-overs in twenty-four (24) hours. (j) No artificial lighting shall be maintained or operated in connection with private swimming pools which illuminates in such manner that a bulb or tube is visible from outside the premises. (k) The owner or person in control of every private swimming pool shall be responsible to maintain such pool in such condition as to prevent breaks in the pool construction causing water from pool overflowing into adjacent public or private property. (l) All interior pools shall have adequate heating, exhaust and ventilation and in all cases the quantity of the exhaust shall be greater than that of supply or other adequate means of moisture control to preclude condensation damage.