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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 3749 | Swimming Pools

 
 
 
Section
Section 3749.01 | Swimming pool definitions.
 

As used in sections 3749.01 to 3749.10 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Board of health" means a city board of health or a general health district, or an authority having the duties of a city board of health as authorized by section 3709.05 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Health district" means any city or general health district created pursuant to section 3709.01 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Person" means the state, any political subdivision, special district, public or private corporation, individual, firm, partnership, association, or any other entity.

(D) "Licensor" means a city board of health or a general health district, an authority having the duties of a city board of health as authorized pursuant to section 3709.05 of the Revised Code, or the director of health when acting under section 3749.07 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Director" means the director of health or an authorized representative of the director of health.

(F) "Private residential swimming pool" means any indoor or outdoor structure, chamber, or tank containing a body of water for swimming, diving, or bathing located at a dwelling housing no more than three families and used exclusively by any of the following:

(1) The dwelling's residents;

(2) The resident's nonpaying guests;

(3) A paying guest of a resident if the guest is participating in a certified swimming class conducted by the resident, provided that both of the following apply:

(a) The resident is a certified swimming instructor and is conducting the certified swimming class on a one-on-one basis.

(b) Not more than four individuals are in the pool at the same time during the class.

(G) "Public swimming pool" means any indoor or outdoor structure, chamber, or tank containing a body of water for swimming, diving, or bathing that is intended to be used collectively for swimming, diving, or bathing and is operated by any person whether as the owner, lessee, operator, licensee, or concessionaire, regardless of whether or not a fee is charged for use, but does not mean any public bathing area or private residential swimming pool.

(H) "Public spa" means any public swimming pool that is typically operated as a smaller, higher temperature pool for recreational or nonmedical uses.

(I) "Special use pool" means a public swimming pool containing flume slides, wave generating equipment, or other special features that necessitate different design and safety requirements. "Special use pool" does not include any water slide or wave generating pool at a public amusement area which is licensed and inspected by the department of agriculture pursuant to Chapter 993. of the Revised Code.

(J) "Public bathing area" means an impounding reservoir, basin, lake, pond, creek, river, or other similar natural body of water.

(K) "Certified swimming class" means an infant swimming resource (ISR) class; an American red cross swimming class, swimming lesson, or learn-to-swim class; and any other swimming class certified by a nationally accredited organization that operates in all fifty states.

(L) "Certified swimming instructor" means a certified ISR instructor; a certified American red cross swimming instructor or swim coach; and any other swim instructor certified by a nationally accredited organization that operates in all fifty states.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Section 3749.02 | Adoption of rules for public swimming pools, spas and special use pools.
 

The director of health shall, subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, adopt rules of general application throughout the state governing the issuance of licenses, approval of plans, layout, construction, sanitation, safety, and operation of public swimming pools, public spas, and special use pools. Such rules shall not be applied to the construction, erection, or manufacture of any building to which section 3781.06 of the Revised Code is applicable when the building or structure is either integral to or appurtenant to a public swimming pool, a public spa, or a special use pool.

Section 3749.03 | Approval of plans by director of health.
 

(A) No person shall construct or install, or renovate or otherwise substantially alter, a public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool after September 10, 1987, until the plans for the pool or spa have been submitted to and approved by the director of health. Within thirty days of receipt of the plans, the director shall approve or disapprove them. The plans and approval required under this division do not apply to repairs or ordinary maintenance that does not substantially affect the manner of water recirculation or basic design of the public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool.

Any person aggrieved by the director's disapproval of plans under this division may, within thirty days following receipt of the director's notice of disapproval, request a hearing on the matter. The hearing shall be held in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and may be appealed in the manner provided in that chapter.

(B) Prior to the issuance of a license to operate a newly constructed or altered public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool, the director or a licensor authorized by the director shall verify that the construction or alterations are consistent with the plans submitted and approved under division (A) of this section. The director or licensor authorized by the director shall have two working days from the time notification is received that a public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool is ready for an inspection to verify the construction or alterations.

(C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, the fees for the approval of plans are as follows:

(a) Five per cent of the total cost of the equipment and installation not to exceed two hundred seventy-five dollars for a public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool, or a combination thereof, that has less than two thousand square feet of surface area;

(b) Five per cent of the total cost of the equipment and installation not to exceed five hundred fifty dollars for a public swimming pool, public spa, special use pool, or a combination thereof, that has two thousand or more square feet of surface area.

(2) The director may, by rule adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, increase the fees established by this section.

(D) All plan approval fees shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the general operations fund created by section 3701.83 of the Revised Code. The fees shall be administered by the director and shall be used solely for the administration and enforcement of this chapter and the rules adopted thereunder.

(E) Plan approvals issued under this section shall not constitute an exemption from the land use and building requirements of the political subdivision in which the public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool is or is to be located.

(F) A plan that does not meet the requirements of division (A) of section 3749.08 of the Revised Code shall not be approved.

Last updated January 20, 2023 at 10:56 AM

Section 3749.04 | Annual application for license to operate or maintain pool or spa.
 

(A) No person shall operate or maintain a public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool without a license issued by the licensor having jurisdiction.

(B) Every person who intends to operate or maintain an existing public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool shall, during the month of April of each year, apply to the licensor having jurisdiction for a license to operate the pool or spa. Any person proposing to operate or maintain a new or otherwise unlicensed public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool shall apply to the licensor having jurisdiction at least thirty days prior to the intended start of operation of the pool or spa. Within thirty days of receipt of an application for licensure of a public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool, the licensor shall process the application and either issue a license or otherwise respond to the applicant regarding the application.

(C) Each license issued shall be effective from the date of issuance until the last day of May of the following year.

(D) Each licensor administering and enforcing sections 3749.01 to 3749.09 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder may establish licensing and inspection fees in accordance with section 3709.09 of the Revised Code, which shall not exceed the cost of licensing and inspecting public swimming pools, public spas, and special use pools.

(E) Except as provided in division (F) of this section and in division (B) of section 3749.07 of the Revised Code, all license fees collected by a licensor shall be deposited into a swimming pool fund, which is hereby created in each health district. The fees shall be used by the licensor solely for the purpose of administering and enforcing this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.

(F) An annual license fee established under division (D) of this section shall include any additional amount determined by rule of the director of health, which the board of health shall collect and transmit to the director pursuant to section 3709.092 of the Revised Code. The amounts collected under this division shall be administered by the director of health and shall be used solely for the administration and enforcement of this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.

Section 3749.05 | Disciplinary actions by licensor of district.
 

The licensor of the district in which a public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool is located may, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, refuse to grant a license or suspend or revoke any license issued to any person for failure to comply with the requirements of Chapter 3749. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder.

Section 3749.06 | Inspection of public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool.
 

Prior to the issuance of an initial license and annually thereafter, the licensor shall inspect each public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool in his jurisdiction to determine whether or not the pool or spa is in compliance with Chapter 3749. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder. A licensor may, as he determines appropriate, inspect a public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool at any other time. The licensor shall make the initial inspection within five days from the date of receipt of notification that the pool or spa is ready for operation and shall maintain a record of each inspection that he conducts for a period of at least five years on forms prescribed by the director of health.

Section 3749.07 | Annual survey of health districts for compliance.
 

(A) The director of health shall annually survey each health district that licenses public swimming pools, public spas, and special-use pools to determine whether or not the health district is in substantial compliance with this chapter and the rules adopted thereunder. If the director determines that a health district is in substantial compliance, he shall place the district on an approved health district licensing list. The director shall, as he determines necessary, make additional surveys of health districts and shall remove from the approved health district licensing list any health district he determines not to be in substantial compliance with this chapter and the rules adopted thereunder.

(B) If the director determines that a health district is not eligible to be placed on the approved health district licensing list, he shall certify the same to the board of health of the health district and shall perform the duties of a health district in that area until the health district is eligible for placement on the approved list. All fees payable to the health district during the time that the director performs the duties of the health district and all other such fees that have not been expended or otherwise encumbered shall be deposited by the director in the state treasury to the credit of the general operations fund created by section 3701.83 of the Revised Code, to be used by the director in his capacity as a licensor. The director shall keep a record of the fees so deposited and, when the health district is placed on the approved list, shall transfer any remaining balance of the fees to the health district swimming pool fund created under division (E) of section 3749.04 of the Revised Code.

Section 3749.08 | Pressure of pool and spa water features.
 

(A) The flow rate through a feature nozzle of a water feature, including a fountain or other interactive feature, at a public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool shall be such as not to harm patrons and shall not exceed twenty feet per second unless justified by the design engineer and by the fountain system manufacturer.

(B) The owner of a public swimming pool, public spa, or special use pool shall ensure that the pool or spa meets the requirements of division (A) of this section.

Last updated January 20, 2023 at 4:35 PM

Section 3749.09 | Prohibitions - injunctive relief.
 

(A) No person shall violate sections 3749.01 to 3749.09 of the Revised Code or any rule adopted thereunder.

(B) The prosecuting attorney of the county, the city director of law, or the attorney general, upon complaint of the licensor, shall prosecute to termination or bring an action for injunctive relief, or both, against any person violating sections 3749.01 to 3749.09 of the Revised Code or any rule adopted thereunder.

Section 3749.99 | Penalty.
 

Whoever violates division (A) of section 3749.09 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.