Permit and Inspection Requirements for Swimming Pools Building Inspection Office (817) 503.1030 City of Colleyville 100 Main Street Colleyville, TX 76034 Inspection Request Line (817) 503.1172 Building Inspection Fax (817) 503.1039 Internet www.colleyville.com CV-304 (01-12)
A. GENERAL INFORMATION The purpose of this document is to outline the minimum requirements for obtaining building permits and on-site inspections associated with the construction of a new swimming pool. B. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS The Colleyville Building Code prohibits the construction of a swimming pool unless a building permit has been applied for, approved and issued by the City Building Inspection Department. A building permit is required for any swimming pool that has a depth of 24 inches. Building permits for pools may be obtained from the Building Inspection Department, located at 100 Main Street. The minimum permit application must include all of the following items and information: 1. Permit Application One (1) copy of the completed permit application indicating the name of the pool contractor. The application must also include the names of the plumbing and electrical contractors. All contractors performing work that requires an inspection shall be registered with the City of Colleyville and possess the license for the applicable trade. An incomplete permit application will not be processed or approved and will be returned to the applicant. 2. Site Plan Two (2) copies of a site plan showing the location of the pool in relation to property lines with the distance indicated from the pool to any structures and to the property boundaries. All measurements shall be from the pool structure itself and not from the water's edge. The site plan shall contain the following information. Additionally, the following regulations will be used to determine compliance with applicable zoning and other code requirements: a. Utility provider approval The two copies of the site plan submitted to the City of Colleyville must be approved and stamped by the applicable electrical service provider (Oncor or Tri-County Electric) before submittal of a permit application. Exception: Above ground pools and spas are not required to provide plans stamped by the electrical service provider. Oncor contact information: Byron Spencer 2118 S. Bowen Arlington, Texas 76013 (817) 861-7551 Tri-County Electric contact information: 4900 Keller Hicks Road Fort Worth, Texas 76244 (817) 431-1541 b. Rear Yard - The pool must be located at least five feet (5') from the rear property line. c. Side Yard - The pool must be located at least five feet (5') from the side property line. d. Easements - Pools, pool decks and pool equipment shall not be located within any utility, drainage or access easement. e. Buildings - Pools must be located a minimum of three feet (3') from any building that has a foundation. The belly of the pool must not penetrate an imaginary line that extends laterally at least one foot (1') for every one foot (1') of depth, measured to any point of excavation. For example, if a portion of a 1
pool is five feet (5') deep, that portion of the pool must be located at least five feet (5') from a building that has a foundation. Note: The measurement shall be from the point at which the natural grade touches the foundation and any area excavated for the pool construction. Exception: Above ground pools and spas do not have a minimum required setback from foundation, but are required to comply with property line setback and easement requirements. f. Pool Equipment - Pool equipment shall not be located within the front yard of a lot or within an easement. Pool equipment shall not be attached to a common fence separating an adjoining property. Pool equipment shall not be installed in drainage swales or designated drainage areas. Pool heater cannot be within four foot (4') of an operable window. g. Rain Gutters - A gutter or rain guard must be installed above equipment when the equipment is located beside a structure with an overhanging roof. h. Septic Systems - The minimum setback requirement from the spray area of a surface irrigation system shall be twenty-five (25') feet. The setback requirement from a sub-surface disposal and all other system types is fifteen feet (15'). 3. Permit Expiration All pool permits expire one-hundred and eighty (180) days from the date the permit is issued. C. REQUESTING AN INSPECTION When a particular stage of construction work is completed and the work is ready for an inspection from the Building Inspection Department, call the Inspection Request Line at (817) 503.1172 to request the inspection. Inspection requests placed before 6:00 a.m. on Monday through Friday will be performed the same day, while inspection requests received after 8:00 a.m. will be performed the following day. Leave the following information on the inspection recorder: Your name The type of inspection being requested The address of pool location If you desire to schedule a specific time for your inspection, you must make arrangements with the Building Inspector by calling (817) 503.1030 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. D. INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS The various inspections listed in this section are the minimum required for all pools constructed in Colleyville. At all times during the construction of the pool, a temporary fence that is at least forty-eight inches (48 ) in height must completely surround the pool. Whenever an inspection is performed and the temporary fence does not completely surround the pool, the pool contractor will be subject to a reinspection fee. 1. Belly steel and pool placement inspection - This inspection is required prior to the placement of any gunite within the pool. Rebar must be minimum size of three-eighths inch (3/8") diameter located no more than twelve inches (12") on center each way. NOTE: The outside temperature must be at least 38 o F and rising in order for the inspection to be performed. If the inspection is requested and the temperature is less than 38 o F, the inspection 2
will be canceled and must be recalled when the weather is warm enough to place concrete. Inspections will also be canceled in wet conditions and must be recalled when the contractor verifies that the work is ready for inspection. 2. Deck steel, electrical bond, electrical underground and plumbing - Before any concrete is placed for the pool deck, the placement of steel and the electrical bond shall be inspected and approved. The concrete deck shall be a minimum thickness of three and one-half inches (3 1/2"). Rebar must be a minimum size of three-eighths inch (3/8") diameter and located no more than eighteen inches (18") on center each way. The bond conductor shall be a minimum size of #8 AWG. A minimum of four (4) ground clamps that are evenly spaced around the pool shall be required to electrically bond the pool from stray ground current. All electrical conductors buried in the ground shall be inspected and approved prior to covering. All electrical wiring and conduit buried in the ground must be inspected prior to covering with dirt. All pool plumbing shall be subjected to a minimum water test of five (5 p.s.i.) pounds per square inch. NOTE: The outside temperature must be at least 38 o F and rising in order for the inspection to be performed. If the inspection is requested and the temperature is less than 38 o F, the inspection will be canceled and must be recalled when it is warm enough to place concrete. Inspections will also be canceled in wet conditions and must be recalled when the contractor verifies that the work is ready for inspection. 3. Gas line inspection - Poly gas lines must be buried at least eighteen inches (18") below the ground with a copper tracer wire not less than 18 gauge. The gas line must be tested in accordance with the plumbing code adopted by the City of Colleyville. 4. Pre-Plaster Inspection - Before any water is placed in the pool, the permanent fence shall be installed, inspected and approved. (See fence requirements below). 5. Drainage inspection - The pool final inspection will not be approved if the Inspector determines that the grading and drainage of the lot is not in compliance with the approved drainage plans for the subdivision. If the Inspector cannot determine the lot water flow, an engineered survey will be required. 6. Pool final inspection - All pool work must be completed. At least one (1) GFCI protected receptacle is required between ten feet (10') and twenty feet (20') from the edge of the pool. All pool lights (except fiber optic lights) must be GFCI protected. Curbs, public sidewalks, landscaping and irrigation systems located in the right-of-way will be inspected to verify that no damage occurred during construction. All windows within five feet (5') of the edge of the water must be safety glass. All ground wires and flexible conduit must be strapped to sturdy risers. The pool final inspection must be approved no later than forty-five (45) days after approval of the pre-plaster inspection. Failure to obtain the pool final inspection within forty-five (45) days of approval of the pre-plaster may cause the issuance of citations and revocation of contractor registration within the City of Colleyville. E. RE-INSPECTION FEES The City of Colleyville building code authorizes the assessment of a re-inspection fee when an inspector is unable to perform or complete a requested inspection due to the fault of the contractor. If a reinspection fee is assessed, no further inspections will be performed at the construction site until the reinspection fee has been paid. All re-inspection fees must be paid no later than 5:00 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled re-inspection. A re-inspection fee of $47 may be assessed for any of the following reasons: 1. The requested inspection is not ready. 2. Copies of the approved construction plans and permits are not on the job site. 3. The gate is locked or the work is otherwise not accessible for inspection. 3
4. An inspection is disapproved twice for the same item. 5. The previous red tag has been removed from the place left by the inspector. 6. The pool or excavated area is not protected by a temporary or permanent fence completely surrounding the pool or excavation. F. FENCE REQUIREMENTS A four-foot fence or screening wall with self-closing and self-latching gates at all entrances shall completely enclose either the pool area or the surrounding yard. Pool areas with car gates shall have automatic closing devices that activate and close within 50 seconds. The following specifications describe the fence requirements for all swimming pools: 1. The top of the barrier must be at least forty-eight inches (48") above grade measured on the side of the barrier facing away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between the grade and the bottom of the barrier must be two inches (2") measured on the side of the barrier facing away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance at the bottom of the barrier may be increased to four inches (4") when grade is a solid surface such as a concrete deck, or when the barrier is mounted on the top of the aboveground pool structure. When barriers have horizontal members spaced less than forty-five inches (45") apart, the horizontal members shall be placed on the pool side of the barrier. Any decorative design work on the side away from the swimming pool, such as protrusions, indentations or cutouts, which render the barrier easily climbable, is prohibited. Exceptions: a. When the top surface of any horizontally run member is at least 45 degrees, measured from the horizontal, such member is not required to be at least forty-five inches (45") apart. b. When the barrier is an existing fence located adjacent to private property, horizontal members that are less than 45 inches apart are not required to be placed on the pool side of the barrier. 2. Openings in the barrier must not allow the passage of a one and three-quarter inch (1-3/4") diameter sphere. Exceptions: a. When vertical spacing between such openings is forty-five inches (45") or more, the opening size may be increased such that the passage of a four inch (4") diameter sphere is not allowed. b. For fencing composed of vertical and horizontal members, the spacing between vertical members may be increased up to four inches (4") when the distance between the tops of horizontal members is forty-five inches (45") or more. 3. Access gates must comply with the requirements of items 1 through 3 listed above. Pedestrian access gates shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device. Where the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism and openings shall comply with the following: a. The release mechanism must be located on the pool side of the barrier at least three inches (3") below the top of the gate. b. The gate and barrier must have no opening greater than one-half inch (1/2") within eighteen inches (18") of the release mechanism. 4
Pedestrian gates must swing away from the pool. Any gates other than pedestrian access gates must be equipped with lockable hardware or padlocks and must remain locked at all times when not in use. Where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, one of the following conditions shall be met: The pool shall be equipped with a powered safety cover in compliance with ASTM F1346; or All doors with direct access to the pool through that wall shall be equipped with an alarm which produces an audible warning when the door and its screen, if present, are opened. The alarm shall sound continuously for a minimum of 30 seconds immediately after the door is opened and be capable of being heard throughout the house during normal household activities. The alarm shall automatically reset under all conditions. The alarm system shall be equipped with a manual means, such as touch-pad or switch, to temporarily deactivate the alarm for a single opening. Such deactivation shall last for not more than 15 seconds. The deactivation switch(es) shall be located at least 54 inches above the threshold of the door; or other means of protection, such as self-closing doors with self-latching devices, which are approved by the governing body, shall be acceptable so long as the degree of protection afforded is not less than the protection afforded by Items described above. 4. Where an above ground pool structure is used as a barrier or where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or steps, then: a. The ladder or steps must be capable of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access. b. The ladder or steps must be surrounded by a barrier which meets the requirements of items one (1) through four (4). When the ladder or steps are secured, locked or removed, any opening created must be protected by a barrier complying with items one (1) through four (4). G. CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION Any contractor involved in the pool construction, such as the pool builder, plumber, or electrician, must be registered with the City of Colleyville and, if applicable, hold an appropriate State or local license for the trade being performed. H. APPLICABLE CODES AND ORDINANCES The City of Colleyville has adopted and enforces the following codes and ordinances that are applicable to the construction and placement of swimming pools. 1. National Electrical Code 2002 ed. 2. International Building Code 2003 ed. 3 International Plumbing Code 2003 ed. 4 Chapter 3, Land Development Code 5. Ordinance O-02-1358 (pool backwash requirements) 6. Chapters 18 & 54, Code of Ordinances (Building Codes and Health & Sanitation Rules for public pools) I. POOL DISCHARGE REGULATIONS Ordinance O-02-1358, approved by the Colleyville City Council, requires wastewater from a swimming pool backwash filter be drained into the sanitary sewer system. According to the ordinance, no pool permitted after November 1, 2002, shall drain into a storm drain, street or creek. The following is a copy of the specific requirements from the ordinance: Backwash from Swimming Pools. On any new swimming pool permitted on or after November 1, 2002, the backwash from a swimming pool shall discharge into the sanitary sewer system. 5
An indirect connection shall be made by means of an air break discharging into a tail piece installed a minimum of six (6) inches (152 mm) above adjacent grade. The tail piece shall be connected to a minimum three (3) inch (76 mm) p-trap not less than twelve (12) inches (304 mm) below grade which discharges into the yard cleanout riser. The backwash drain from a D. E. or sand filter shall either discharge into a p trap connected to the sanitary sewer or be equipped with a separation tank and discharged back into the pool. The p-trap connection may be made to the out-sweep side of the cleanout. Owners of existing pools are not required by this ordinance to retrofit the pool equipment and tie into the sanitary sewer. 6