Do I Need a Fence for My Swim Spa? A Permit? A Concrete Pad? A COMPLETE Guide
If you have decided to buy a swim spa, you probably have a number of questions, including whether or not your swim spa needs a fence, a permit, a concrete pad or other elements to be installed.
We are here with a guide. This conversation happens with every purchase of a Hydropool swim spa: Our retailers are entirely used to it.
But it’s not the same conversation each time. This is because local regulations vary depending on where you are. As a result, this is one of the hardest areas to give advice on in an article like this.
In looking at if you need a fence, a permit or a concrete pad for a swim spa, the quick answer is:
- Sometimes you need a fence, although often this is not the case. In some areas, a locking cover is sufficient. You need a cover for your swim spa for sanitization reasons regardless.
- Sometimes you need a permit, although often this is not the case.
- You always need a concrete pad. This isn’t about any local regulations, it is simply because a swim spa is of such size and weight that a pad is required.
In all cases, this is why a local dealer comes in handy when purchasing a swim spa. They will know the local requirements, and are your best resource in determining what you need and what you don’t (you can find your local retailer here). In the following article, we’re going to look at these three elements in-depth.
Does a Swim Spa Need a Fence?
One of the most common questions that dealers get about swim spa fencing requirements are “Do we need a fence?”
The answer to “you need a fence for your swim spa” is that it varies from region to region and you should always check with your municipality or your local retailer for what is required in your area.
- Many municipalities in North America have requirements in place for any swimming pool, swim spa or hot tub. These requirements need to be maintained for as long as the pool or spa is in place.
- Many do not, or have simplified versions that are primarily about respecting neighbours or meeting aesthetic or structural guidelines.
This is why checking locally is crucial.
Here’s why a fence may be required. The primary purpose of any fencing is to restrict access by unsupervised children. There can be requirements on how high any barrier needs to be -- usually around 1.25 metres or about four feet. The fence’s materials need to be weather resistant and need to be able to withstand likely conditions like wind and minor impacts.
Do I Need a Cover for My Swim Spa?
In this case the answer is clearly yes, whether there is a by-law in your area or not. You need one to keep the water clean at the very least.
At the same time, many swim spas in many areas will not require fencing, because these ordinates are largely aimed at in-ground pools.
If that is the case, often your municipality will require a cover.
- Typically, it needs to be a lockable cover or lid that is required to be locked in place at all times when not in use.
- It also needs to withstand human weight without collapse.
- The locking cover achieves the same effect as a fence in that it will not allow children to enter the swim spa.
- A cover should come with your swim spa when you buy it.
Are There Other Swim Spa Regulations?
Some other common guidelines that your municipality may have for swim spas are:
- Gates - can only open away from the swim spa (outward) and need to automatically return to a closed, latched position once opened. They also cannot be opened again after closing unless the manual release mechanism is used.
- Fences - Must have a solid finished surface and no climbable elements nearby.
- Walls & Doors- External walls can typically be used provided there are no door openings or windows. Doors are usually prohibited from opening into a spa area.
- Some municipalities also have zoning requirements for swim spas, pools and hot tubs. Common guidelines include that the pool or spa cannot be located in a front yard or certain exterior side yards, depending on compliance with sightline regulations and building proximity.
- Another common requirement is that your swim spa or hot tub will need to be set back a specific amount from the property line.
Do I Need a Permit for a Swim Spa?
The answer to the question of whether you need a permit for a swim is “maybe.” You will always need to check with your local swim spa retailer or with local regulations to confirm what is required in your area. In many cases you do not, as swim spas are considered portable units and not regulated to the same extent as pools. But it’s worth a query to find out.
Do I Need a Concrete Pad for a Swim Spa?
This one has a definitive answer: You always need a concrete pad for a swim spa. They are simply too heavy and substantial to be placed on anything else. A swim spa placed on an uneven surface will develop warps and its shell will eventually break. At Hydropool, we don’t deliver unless we know there is a concrete pad in place.
What Regulations Do I Need to Follow to Have a Swim Spa?
While it may seem like an overwhelming amount of information you need to learn about what is required to install your swim spa, it isn’t anything that your local spa dealer can’t help you with.
Ask them about local requirements, guidelines and best practices that they recommend that will keep your swim spa safe for anyone to use.
