Residential pools: what the regulations say
To reduce the risk of young children drowning, Quebec has amended the Regulation respecting the safety of residential swimming pools, which now applies to all pools, regardless of when they were installed. As a result, the existing by-law now applies to all residential pools, and owners who have lost their acquired rights have until September 30, 2025 to comply with the Residential Pool Safety By-law.
What you need to know about the updated Application Guide
In response to a number of frequently asked questions, the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation recently clarified the application of certain requirements of the Règlement sur la sécurité des piscines résidentielles.
They mainly concern :
- Requirements for doors and windows in a wall forming part of an enclosure;
- Installation of double doors in an enclosure;
- The height of railings on a terrace giving access to a swimming pool or a balcony with no external exit.
You’ll find all the information you need in the Quebec government’s recently updated Guide d’application du Règlement sur la sécurité des piscines résidentielles, which offers various solutions for pool compliance. It also includes numerous explanatory images to accompany the information.
Would you like to know if your pool is compliant?
Before buying a residential pool, or to check whether your current installations meet current requirements, you can use a self-assessment tool tailored to the type of installation you’re considering. This will give you an initial overview of what you need to consider to ensure compliance.
Compliance deadline
You have until September 30, 2025 to comply with the regulations.
Need support?
As each situation is unique, don’t hesitate to check with our urban planning team to ensure that your development complies with provincial regulations. If you have any questions, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 450 923-6311.
To find out more, go to Securing your outdoor pool to prevent drowning.
