New Safety Rules for Residential Pools: Only a Few Weeks Left to Comply!

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New safety rules came into effect in July 2021, but not everyone had to follow them right away. If your pool was installed before November 1, 2020, you have until September 30, 2025 to comply. Haven’t updated your setup yet? The deadline is coming fast! Here’s a quick look at the rules you should know, and how they apply to you.

Rear view of a child sitting on the edge of a backyard swimming pool.

Pool fences must meet new safety standards. These standards are designed to limit the risk of drowning from unsupervised swimming. If your pool fence doesn’t meet these new standards, you could face a fine of $500 or more.   

Choose the right fence 

Any pool with a depth of 60 cm or more must have a fence around it, even if it’s an inflatable or temporary pool. To comply with safety regulations, the fence must: 

  • be at least 1.2 m high,  
  • prevent the passage of any round object 10 cm in diameter,  
  • be difficult to climb.   

For chain-link fences, the mesh openings should be 3 cm or less. If the openings are wider than 3 cm, you must insert slats. This rule applies only to fences installed or replaced in 2021 or later. However, if you’re putting in a new pool to replace the old one, you’ll need to make sure your fence meets this requirement, and follow all the other requirements in the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Regulation.  

Did you know?  
If you have an above-ground pool with sides that are more than 1.2 m high, you don’t have to install a fence around it. But any entrance to the pool, like a ladder or a patio, must be protected by a fence or a gate that meets the requirements mentioned above.

Access to the pool 

Every gate must have a self-closing and self-latching security device installed on the inside of the fence. The device can be installed on the outside of the fence, if it’s at a minimum height of 1.5 m from the ground. 

Respect the minimal distance  

Installing a new fence to respect the new rules? Make sure your fence isn’t right next to pool-related equipment, like a water heater or pump, that a child could climb to access the fence. The equipment must be at least one metre away from the above-ground pool or from the pool fence, if it’s outside the fenced area.  

Check municipal by-laws 

Your municipality may have stricter regulations than those mentioned above. Check with your municipality to ensure you’re doing everything correctly. Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to swimming pools! 

To learn more about the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Regulation, check out the guide written by the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (department of municipal affairs and housing) (French only).