Swimming Pool Requirements
Permits:
A Pool Permit is required on any pool 24” in depth or more. The fee is $10 per year for those pools that are disassembled every year. The permit fee for other pools depends on total cost of installation.
An Electrical Permit is required on all pools greater than 42” in depth. The minimum fee is $25 and escalated depending on value.
To obtain your permits, please visit the Inspections Department at Normal City Hall, 100 E. Phoenix Ave., Normal, IL. Bring a site plan showing your land parcel and the proposed pool location. The site plan must show how far the pool is away from the property lines, overhead electrical wires, buildings, and any other structures on the lot. If a new fence is to be erected, the site plan must show the fence line, and how far from the property line the pool will be. If the fence is existing, the site plan must show the existing fence location.
Required Inspections:
A site inspection is required prior to erecting/installing any pool 24” deep or deeper. If you have underground utilities, please have Julie (1-800-892-0123) locate the underground utilities prior to inspection. Please mark your pool location and call Inspections at 454-9581 to request a site.
Once the site is approved, construction/erection may begin. For those pools 42” of depth or greater, an electrical inspection is required on above ground pools after the base is set. Once the base is set, a #8 solid copper bond wire must be attached at opposite sides of the pool and run continuously to the pump motor location to insure proper bonding. This bond wire must also be attached to any metallic object or structure within 10’ of the waters edge. If any paving is to take place around the pool, a bonding grid must be constructed and bonded to this #8 wire.
Once the bonding inspection is complete, erection of the pool may continue. Call Inspections and request a Pool Bonding Inspection.
If the pool is erected and filled without the proper bonding inspection, the Town may require emptying the pool and disassembly to verify bonding has taken place properly.
If any underground electrical is installed to service the pool, inspection of the wiring is required prior to covering the electrical work. Call Inspections for an Underground Electrical Rough. If electrical is buried without inspection, digging it up may be required.
Location Information:
No swimming pool shall be installed beneath, or have any edge of the pool within 10’-0” measured horizontally from an overhead electrical wire, telephone wire, cable TV wire, or any other type of wire. No swimming pool shall be installed beneath, or have any edge of the pool within 25’-0” measured horizontally from high voltage electrical feeder wires. All diving boards, diving platforms, and diving towers must maintain a 17’-0” distance, measured horizontally, from all wires. No pool shall be constructed within 5’ of any type of buried wire.
In-ground swimming pools shall not be installed within an easement. You may call Normal Engineering at 454-9578 regarding the locations of existing public sewers in your area.
The installation of the swimming pool, equipment, and paving, must not change the existing water drainage characteristics of the site so as to cause water to drain onto adjacent private or public property.
Fence, barrier, gate, and alarm requirements:
All swimming pools that are capable of holding a depth of water greater than 24” must be surrounded by a minimum 48” high fence or other barrier, constructed with minimal horizontal members to discourage climbing by children. Openings in the fence shall not allow the passage of a 4” sphere, except that the maximum spacing between the bottom of the fence and the ground shall be 2”.
Gates in fences shall swing outward, shall be self-closing, and shall be self-latching with the latch located on the pool-side of the gate Gates shall be at least 48” high with openings not allowing the passage of a 4” sphere, except that the maximum opening at the bottom of the gate is 2”, and shall be constructed with minimal horizontal members to discourage climbing.
If the house or other structure has a door leading directly into the fenced pool area, an automatic audible alarm is required to sound when the doors leading into the fenced pool area are opened.
If the swimming pool is and above-ground pool at least 48” high, the pool wall may serve as a barrier, but a fence (and gate as described in #4 above) is still required around the access ladder to the pool. Swimming pool filter equipment shall not be installed in a location where a child could climb on the equipment to gain access to the swimming pool.
The swimming pool cannot be filled with water until after the fence, gates, door alarms, and electrical bonding have been installed.
When applying for a building permit for the swimming pool, a site plan must be submitted showing how far the pool is away from the property lines, overhead electrical wires, buildings, and any other structures on the lot. If a new fence is to be erected, the site plan must show the fence line, and how far from the property line the pool will be. If the fence is existing, the site plan must show the existing fence location.
Pool Information: Bill Dodd, Building Inspector, 454-9640.
Electrical Information: Rand Veerman, Electrical Inspector, 454-9588.