Swimming Pools

In the County of Brant, owners of private swimming pools must apply for a Swimming Pool Permit to build and maintain fences and gates around their swimming pools. These enclosures are needed to prevent people or animals from entering without your permission.

Find more information on pool enclosure requirements such as heights, openings, materials and ground clearance in the Municipal Swimming Pool Enclosure By-Law (PDF)

On this page:

What is considered swimming pool?
Before applying for a Swimming Pool Permit
Apply Online

What is considered a swimming pool?

Located outdoors on private property
Capable of holding water in excess of 600 mm (23.5 inches) in depth at any point

Before applying for a Swimming Pool Permit

Step 1 - Conservation Authority and Grading approvals

Conservation

Much of the County of Brant is regulated through various conservation authorities including the Long Point Region Conservation Authority and the Grand River Conservation Authority. Each of these regulatory agencies have different requirements and it is important to know how they may impact your project as many of them are required to be in place prior to applying. View the websites below to determine if your property falls within either authority.

Visit the Long Point Region Conservation Authority website
Visit the Grand River Conservation Authority website

Grading

It is essential that all lots in the County of Brant be graded properly to ensure that surface water drainage is directed away and does not adversely affect the neighbouring properties.
Prepare a Site Plan showing the location of the swimming pool enclosure, swimming pool and swimming pool equipment on the property in relation to the location of the property lines, street lines, sewage system and all buildings on the property.

Email the completed site plan to the Development Engineering Department for review.

Step 2 - Gather required documents

Swimming Pool Fence Details Document (PDF) if a fence is being used as the pool enclosure
Grading comments and/or approved grading plan
Conservation Authority approvals (if applicable)
Detailed Site Plan including:
- The address of the property
- All property lines and surrounding streets shown and labelled
- All existing buildings and structures on the property labelled
- Proposed location and size of the pool
- Distances from the proposed pool to existing structures and property lines
- Location of the pool equipment
- Location of the fence pool enclosure (if applicable)
- Location of septic system (if applicable) and distance to the proposed pool

Pool Enclosure Requirements

Height

The pool enclosure shall extend from the ground to a height of not less than 1.53 metres (5 feet)

Openings and Materials

Chain link fence:

Shall not have any openings having a diameter exceed 38.01mm (1.5 inches).
Must be supported by a minimum of 38.01 mm (1.5 inches) galvanized steel posts, spaced not more than 2.44 metres (8 feet) apart.
Must have the bottom rail located a maximum of 76.01 mm (3 inches) from the ground.

Wood:

Must be constructed of solid panels, vertical boards or vertical pickets having horizontal rails not less than 1.22 m (4 feet) apart vertically from the top of the bottom horizontal rail to the top of the upper horizontal rail.
Openings between the panels must be spaced not more than 3.81 cm (1.5 inches) apart
Must be supported by posts that measure a minimum of 100.1 mm x 100.1 mm (4 x 4 inches), spaced not more than 2.44 metres (8 feet) apart.

Wrought iron or other metal type:

Have horizontal members, including top and bottom rails, that are spaced at least 1.22 m (4 feet) apart and vertical members that are spaced no more than 100.1 mm (4 inches) apart on the exterior face of the fence.

Ground Clearance

The space at any point between the pool enclosure and ground level must not exceed 76.01 mm (3 inches) and the ground beneath the pool enclosure cannot be loose gravel or other material that can be easily removed so as to afford access under the pool enclosure.

Framing and Braces

All horizontal structural members must be located inside of the pool enclosure as to prevent easy climbing.

Location

Location of Pool:

Your pool can be located in the interior side yard or rear yard.
It cannot be closer than 1.2 m (4 feet) to any lot line and in the case of a corner lot shall be no closer than 3.5 metres from the exterior side lot line.

Location of Pool Equipment:

Equipment with circulating water or treating equipment, such as pumps or filters shall be located minimum 3 metres (9.84 ft) to any side or rear lot line.

Gates

Every owner shall ensure that every gate forming part of a pool enclosure:

is constructed in accordance with the standards prescribed in Section 5 of the By-law.
is supported on substantial hinges,
is equipped with a self-closing device and with a self-latching device that is located at the top and on the inside of the gate, at least 1.22 m (4 feet) above the ground level.

Pool Walls

Above ground pools are permitted to use the pool walls as the pool enclosure, provided the following are ALL true:

The outside wall of the swimming pool is made of rigid material.
The walls have a minimum height of 1.22 meters (4 feet) measured from effective ground level at all points on the perimeter of such wall.
Secure entry in the form of a lockable ladder, removable steps, or gate is provided.
There is a minimum clearance of 1.22 meters ( 4 feet) around the pool walls and away from any building, pool equipment, fence, tree, air conditioning unit, utility meter, steps, ledge, windowsill or other climbable object.

Apply Online

To apply, submit a Swimming Pool Permit Application online.

Submit online Application

For assistance or inquiries, contact us below.

Email Pool Permits

Permit Fees

A Swimming Pool permit fee of $250.00 is required prior to approval of the application.
A lot grading review fee may be applicable.

Mandatory Inspection

After your swimming pool enclosure has been constructed, call 519.44.BRANT(519.442.7268) or e-mail the Bylaw Division to arrange for a mandatory inspection by a Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officer.

Email Bylaw Division

The inspection must be completed before the pool is filled with water.