HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 0522 - Swimming Pool Regulations 4,Ve
CITY OF TUK
WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 522 %Cab:IL_
An Ordinance of the City of Tukwila regulating the location
of swimming pools, requiring fencing around swimming pools
and regulating the height of fences surrounding swimming
pools, and providing penalities for the violation of the
provisions thereof,
WHEREAS, the construction and maintenance of private swimming pools on
private property is increasing throughout the city and that by reason of the increase
in the number of private swimming pools being constructed in the city, the hazards
resulting from unguarded and unprotected swimming pools are constantly increasing; and
WHEREAS, the maintenance of private swimming pools without supervision or
precautionary measures taken to guard the same constitutes an extreme hazard and will
in the future continue to constitute an extreme hazard to the safety of the inhabitants
of the City of Tukwila, and particularly to the small children thereof; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the City Council of the City of Tukwila,
Washington to take every reasonable precaution to minimize said hazard. In order
to do this circumstances require the adoption of minimum safety precautions in the
construction, maintenance and operation of private swimming pools;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Tukwila do ordain as follows:
SECTION 1, LOCATION OF SWIMMING POOLS
A swimming pool may not be located in any front yard required by the
zoning code of the city, nor closer than five (5) feet measured from the edge of the
water surface to any exterior property line.
SECTION 2. REQUIRED FENCING.
Every person who owns real property, or any person who is in possession
of real property either as owner, purchaser under contract, as the lessee, tenant
or licensee, and which real property is located within the boundaries of any
residential district zone (R -1 through RMH) or which is located within the boundaries
of any C -1, CC -2 or M -1 district, under Ordinance 251 as amended, and which property
is located within the incorporated area of the City of Tukwila and upon which real
property there is situated a man made, hard surfaced, swinmiing pool, or, any person
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above named who shall hereinafter construct upon any real property, as above
designated, a man -made, hard surfaced swimming pool shall erect thereon and maintain
thereupon a solid structure or a fence not less than five (5) feet in height with
no opening therein, other than doors or gates, large than six (6) inches square.
The said fence or other solid structure shall completely surround such swimming
pool in such a manner as to minimize, as near as possible, the danger of unsupervised
children gaining access thereto. All gates or doors opening through such enclosure
shall be equipped with a self closing and self-latching device designed to keep and
capable of keeping such doors or gates securely closed at all times when not in
actual use, and all latches shall be placed at least four and one -half (4) feet
above the ground or shall be made inaccessible to small children from the outside;
provided, however, that the door to any dwelling occupied by human beings and forming
any part of the enclosure hereinabove required need not be so equipped. Such fencing
and latches shall be installed prior to the filling of the pool with water for use
When a swimming pool that is located within a yard enclosed by a fence
meets the requirements of this ordinance, and when the gates or doors in said fence
meets the requirements of this ordinance, no fence immediately surrounding said
swimming pool shall be required.
SECTION 3. REQUIRED APPROVAL OF PLANS
Plans for swimming pools to be constructed shall be submitted to the
Building Department, and shall show on their face the form of proposed compliance
with the requirements of this Ordinance, and the final inspection and approval of
all pools hereafter constructed shall be withheld until all requirements of this
Ordinance shall have been complied with, Use of the swimming pool before final
inspection and approval shall constitute a violation of this ordinance.
SECTION 4. PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS
The provisions of this Ordinance shall not apply to public swimming pools
for which a charge or admission price is required to be paid for the use thereof,
nor to swimming pools which are a part of and located upon the same premises as a
hotel or motel, nor to swimming pools operated by a School District when the pools
are made unavailable except at times when attended by adult supervisors or guards.
SECTION 5. CONFORMANCE OF PRIOR- EXISTING SWIPING POOLS.
Swimming pools of a type subject to the provisions of this Ordinance which
were in existence on the effective date of this Ordinance but which swimming pools
do not possess the safety features required herein shall, within a period of not to
exceed six (6) months from the effective date of this Ordinance, be brought into
conformity with the provisions and requirements of this Ordinance. Swimming pools
not brought into conformity within the period of time herein stipulated are hereby
declared to be a public nuisance and a public hazard, and the owner of the premises
upon which such pools exist shall be subject to the penalties prescribed herein.
SECTION 6. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTY
Any person, firm, association or corporation violating any of the
provisions of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon convistion
thereof such person, firm, association or corporation shall be punished by imprisonment
in the county jail for not more than ninety (90) days or by a fine of not more than
three hundred dollars ($300.00).
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Tukwila, Washington, this
L7 Z, day of 1968.
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APPROVED AS TO FORM
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ATTORNEY
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Tukwila, Washington this 7 day
of �Grin�P 1968.
I
MAYOR J r 4, T�
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