Pools usually mean fun with family or friends. But the risks related to swimming are very real, especially for children. This is why residential pool owners have to know and comply with a number of safety standards.
Is your pool outdoors and can the water be up to 60 cm deep? Whether your pool is inground, semi-inground, aboveground or portable, you must choose a safe setup.
Before you start the work to set up your pool, ask your municipality about the permits required.
Controlling access
- Enclosure
Most pools must be surrounded by an enclosure at least 1.2 m high. It must not be possible for a ball 10 cm in diameter to pass through it or under it. Furthermore, the enclosure must not be easy to climb.Do you have a chain-link fence with openings larger than 30 mm? Make sure you insert slates through the mesh. You can use privacy slats, for example.
Please note that specific rules apply if a wall with a door or windows is part of your enclosure. For more information, read pages 12 and 13 of the Guide to the Application of the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Regulation (in French).
Exceptions
An enclosure is not mandatory for aboveground models at least 1.2 m high or portable models at least 1.4 m high. For these, however, other safety conditions must be met. The conditions depend on the structure used to access the pool: platform, ladder or a deck attached to the house.
- Door
The door that provides access to the pool must have the same characteristics as the enclosure. It must close and lock automatically. The latch must be at least 1.5 m above the ground. If it isn’t, it must be on the other side of the door (the pool side).
Other important measures
- Clearance strip
Do not place any fixed apparatus, structure or equipment within one metre of the pool or the enclosure if it could be climbed on to gain access to the pool. Keep this in mind when you install your filtration system, your water heater or a play structure, for example.
- Diving board standards
Are you planning to install a diving board? Make sure that the dimensions of your pool meet the requirements for safe diving. They are summarized in this flyer, which you can find online.
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Was your pool built before November 1, 2010? You have until September 30, 2025, to do the work required to comply with the standards described above.
Questions?
To learn more about the regulations that apply to residential pools, see this Guide or go to Quebec.ca.
The Protecteur du citoyen has no jurisdiction over the application of swimming pool rules, but the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation is responsible for the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Regulation. Feel free to contact us if you have a complaint to make about this government department. Our services are easily accessible, confidential and free of charge.
