Planning Notice Re: Swimming Pools

Details: Published: Friday, 26 May 2023 14:03

Owners of swimming pools are reminded that permits are required for new pools, and that the Town of Trenton, adopted a Common Land Use By-law in 2016 along with the other four towns in Pictou County. It is critical that swimming pools be fenced to ensure safety, and prevent young children from entering the pool area. Specifically, the Land Use By-law states:

Swimming Pool means a permanent or portable water-filled Structure, above ground or in-ground, with a minimum depth of 0.6 metres (2 feet) below surrounding land level, used for swimming and bathing, and does not include Reflecting Pools or other Landscaping features, and is not an Accessory Structure.

21.7. Outdoor Swimming Pools and Reflecting Pools

Swimming Pools shall comply with the requirements of the Swimming Pool By-Law for the applicable Town. In addition, no Development Permit shall be issued for an outdoor Swimming Pool unless the pool conforms to the following requirements:

a. a Swimming Pool, or the Yard in which it is located, shall be enclosed by a Fence or combination of Buildings and Fences, and for in-ground Swimming Pools, the Fence shall be situate no closer than 1.2 metres (4 feet) from the inside edge of the Swimming Pool;

b. the enclosure shall:
i. completely enclose the Swimming Pool or Yard in which it is situate;
ii. create a barrier a minimum of 1.5 metres (5 feet) from the ground to the top of the Fence, gate, or enclosing Structure; and
iii. have no opening greater than 10 cm (4 inches) in any part of the Fence, gate, or enclosing Structure;

c. Swimming Pools shall comply with the Setback requirements per section 21.25 and section 21.26 of this By-Law as well as Table 2: Permitted Encroachments in Yards;

d. a Swimming Pool shall not be permitted in a required Front Yard in residential Zones;

e. in Commercial, Institutional (I) or Recreation (P) Zones, the minimum Setback from any Lot line shall be 6.1 metres (20 feet), measured from the property line to the inside edge of the Swimming Pool; and

f. unobstructed public access to a Swimming Pool is not permitted, and access shallbe limited via:
i. a self-closing and self-latching gate a minimum of 1.5 metres (5 feet) in height;
ii. a main enclosing or partially-enclosing Building; or
iii. an Accessory enclosing or partially-enclosing Building provided unobstructed access through the Structure is not permitted.

These requirements are in place to ensure the safety of all residents, but especially children. The Town also has a Swimming Pool By-law No.39 that requires fencing, and other requirements. We look forward to your cooperation in this regard. Should you have any questions, please contact:

Roland Burek
Planning & Development Officer
Email:
Phone: 902-752-4476