Overview
Public swimming pools, spas and special use pools are regulated under the authority of Chapter 3749 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and Chapter 3701-31 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). A public swimming pool is defined as any indoor or outdoor structure, chamber or tank containing a body of water for swimming, diving or bathing, but does not include a private residential swimming pool. The rules establish minimum standards, applicable throughout Ohio, for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of these facilities in order to protect the bathing public from injury, minimize the potential for disease transmission and provide a safe and healthy aquatic recreational environment.
FEE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 1, 2012
The public swimming pool state fees are changing effective April 1, 2012 as follows:
| FEE CATEGORY |
CURRENT FEE |
NEW FEE - APRIL 1, 2012 |
| Primary License |
$72 |
$80 |
| Additional License |
$47 |
$55 |
| Plan Review for pools <2,000 sq. ft. |
$1,408 |
$1,662 |
| Plan Review for pools >2,000 sq. ft. |
$2,232 |
$2,578 |
| Plan Review for Special Features |
$1,408 |
$1,662 |
| Plan Review for Projects with a total cost <$5,000 |
$655 |
$832 |
| Equipment Replacement Notification |
$45 |
$50 |
| Construction Inspections not included with plan review |
$291 |
$373 |
Virginia Graeme Baker (VGB) Act -The Consumer Product Safety Commission has reversed its decision to allow approved unblockable covers to be installed over blockable drains. All public swimming pool operators that installed an approved unblockable drain cover over their existing blockable drain will be required to install an alternative secondary device to prevent entrapment and/or evisceration. The deadline for compliance is May 28, 2012. Acceptable secondary methods are to enlarge the drain to an unblockable size, install a second main drain or a safety vacuum release system device. All of these methods require plan review by the Ohio Department of Health.
For more information, please read the Director of Environmental Health letter regarding the Consumer Product Safety Commission reversal of approval.
The CPSC has recalled main drain covers manufactured by a variety of companies, for more information click on the Product Recall page on the left. The CPSC has recently released a FAQ for the recall. Please visit the following webpage, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11230faq.html to view this document.
All pool and spa operators are required to comply with the VGB Act. For more information on what steps to take to gain compliance, click on the Pool and Spa Operators letter. All main drain grate covers will have to be replaced with CPSC approved covers. A listing of those covers can be found on their website at http://www.poolsafely.gov/pool-spa-safety-act/virginia-graeme-baker/. For any additional measure that may be required to prevent entrapment or evisceration in a pool or spa, plans must be submitted to the ODH, Bureau of Environmental Health, Engineering Dept. for review. If a mechanical device is installed on a pool or spa to comply with the requirements of the VGB Act, a Certification of Installation form, signed by both the person installing the device and the pool/spa operator, must be submitted to ODH within 14 days of installation.
Services
The following services are provided through the Public Swimming Pool program:
- Policy and procedural guidance to local health district staff for the implementation of the public swimming pool/spa/special use pool regulatory program.
- Technical assistance and training in all aspects of facility construction, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and evaluation of public swimming pool, public spa and special use pool facilities.
- Periodic surveys of local health district licensing programs to assure licensing programs are being conducted in compliance with the ORC and the OAC.
- Resource for the general public relative to aquatic recreation issues, protection from disease transmission, personal safety and complaint investigation.
The recently revised public swimming pool rules provided that the Director of Health would maintain a listing for approved lifeguard courses, CPR and first aid training organizations. The Approved Safety Certifications List can be found here.
Additional Information:
Mailing Address:
Ohio Department of Health
Swimming Pools, Spas & Special Use Pools
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Telephone: (614) 466-1390
Fax: (614) 466-4556
E-mail: BEH@odh.ohio.gov
Last updated: 7/27/12