Welcome to our new website!

Welcome! We hope you find our new website helpful and easier to navigate. It's now as easy to use on your smartphone as your desktop. Take a tour and please tell us what you think.

Pool Enclosure Permits

If you have a private outdoor swimming pool capable of holding more than 0.76 metres (30 inches) of water, you must get a pool enclosure permit to install and maintain a fence or gate around it. This helps prevent unauthorized access and ensures safety measures. 

What Counts as a "Swimming Pool"? 

A pool enclosure is required for outdoor pools, hot tubs, or ponds used for swimming, wading, or bathing that can hold over 0.76 m (30”) of water. This includes landscape ponds that meet these criteria. 

Pools and Bodies of Water not included in the Pool Enclosure By-law  

  • A pond or reservoir to be utilized for farming purposes or as part of a golf course; 

  • A hydro massage pool with locking cover; 

  • A pool owned by any public or governmental body, agency or authority, or is under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Building Code; 

  • An existing natural body of water or stream; or 

  • A privately owned stormwater management facility. 

Height 

The pool enclosure shall extend from the ground to a height of not less than 1.22m (4 feet). Height shall be measured from the finished ground level on the outside (not the pool side) of the pool enclosure. 

Openings and Materials 

Chain link fence - shall not have any openings that would allow the passage of a spherical object having a diameter exceeding 38mm (1.5 inches). 

Vertical and horizontal members - if horizontal structural members are greater than 114.3cm (45 inches) apart, the horizontal members can be located on the outside of the pool enclosure and the spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 100mm (4 inches). If horizontal structural members are less than 114.3cm (45 inches) apart, the horizontal members must be located inside the pool enclosure and the spacing between each vertical member should not exceed 44.45mm (1.75 inches). 

Ground Clearance The space at any point between the pool enclosure and the finished ground level and/or finished floor level must not exceed 100 mm (4 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 to prevent easy climbing. 

Location 

Location of Pool Enclosure 

  • The pool enclosure should only enclose the immediate pool area and shall be located not less than 0.61m (2 feet) from any fence or structure 

  • Your pool can be located in the interior side yard or rear yard. 

  • It cannot be closer than 1.5 m (5 ft) to any lot line and no closer to any street than the setback required accordingly. 

Location of Pool Equipment 

Equipment with circulating water or treating equipment, such as pumps or filters or any accessory building or structure that contains this equipment (like a pump house) cannot be closer than 1m (3 ft) to any 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 this By-law; 

  • is supported on substantial hinges, capable of supporting 90.72kg (200 lbs.) in body weight; 

  • is equipped with a self-closing device; 

  • is equipped with a self-latching device that is located at least 1.22m (4 feet) above the finished floor level and/or finished ground level (see Figure 7) 

  • is equipped with a lock. 

How to Apply for a Permit 

The online building permit system, Cloudpermit allows you to apply and see the status of your application anywhere, at any time. It allows you to start an application and finish it later.  

Cloud permit also works as a communication tool allowing you to receive email updates on the status of your permit application.

Apply for a Pool Enclosure Permit.

Need help getting started with Cloudpermit?  A step-by-step guide is available to help you login and submit your first application. 

If you are having difficulty using Cloudpermit, please contact the Building Department for assistance at building@saugeenshores.ca or 519-832-2008 ext. 118. You can also access support through Cloudpermit's online portal.

What Documents are required for the Permit? 

You will be required to upload the following information to Cloudpermit as part of your permit application: 

  • Site plan showing: 

  • Pool and property dimensions; 

  • Distances to the house and lot lines; 

  • Location of any doors and windows in the house adjacent to the pool area; and 

  • Location and height of proposed fence and gates. 

Detail drawing showing: 

  • Fence details showing compliance with the pool enclosure requirements listed above. 

How much is the permit fee? 

A pool enclosure permit fee of $171.85 is required prior to approval of the application. Payment can be made at the Municipal Office or through Cloudpermit. See our methods of payment accepted. 

Contact Us

Building Services
600 Tomlinson Drive, P.O. Box 820
Port Elgin, ON N0H 2C0
Phone  519-832-2008 Ext. 118
Email building@saugeenshores.ca