Pools & Spas

Public Swimming Pools, Spas, and Special Use Pools

Public swimming pools, spas, and special use pools are regulated under the authority of Chapter 3749 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and Chapter 3701-31 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC).

The public swimming pool rules were created to establish minimum standards, applicable throughout Ohio, for the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of these facilities in order to protect the bathing public from injury, minimize the potential for disease transmission, and provide a safe and healthy aquatic recreational environment. These rules do not pertain to private residential pools.

The Ohio Department of Health oversees construction, design, and alteration of all public swimming pools, spas, and special use pools in the State of Ohio. Once pool construction and design operations are approved by the Ohio Department of Health, the owner/operator must apply to the Perry County Health Department for an Annual Operating License and Inspection.

Perry County Health Department Pool Program

  • Collects annual public swimming pool, spa, or special use pool applications and fees for a license to operate.
  • Inspects each licensed public swimming pool, spa, or special use pool twice per licensing year for compliance with Ohio Laws and Rules.
  • Provides educational information and guidance regarding public swimming pools, spas, and special use pools.
  • Completes periodic surveys and reviews of the public swimming pools, spas, and special use pools in order to fulfill the Ohio Department of Health requirements to administer the program.

Licensing for Existing Pools — Annual Renewal

Submit this application to the Perry County Health Department.

Record Keeping & Reporting

Required documentation for existing pools. Keep on site at the licensed pool and submit to the Ohio Department of Health and the Perry County Health Department as needed.

  • Pool Weekly Operation and Incident Report
  • Public Pool and Spa Injury Incident Report Form
  • Ohio Department of Health: Public Swimming Pool, Spa, Special Use Pool — Injury and Incident Report Form

New, Substantial Alteration, or Existing Unlicensed Pools

To become a new public swimming pool, spa, or special use pool, you must submit the following documents to the Ohio Department of Health for review and approval.

Once approved, you must apply for annual licensing to operate with the Perry County Health Department (see above).

Equipment Replacement Notification (ERN)

Need to replace pool operating equipment?

ERNs must be submitted for equipment that was not originally approved by the Ohio Department of Health — OAC 3701-31-05 (D)(4).

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Pool Program

  • Approves construction and design for public swimming pools and spray grounds in Ohio.
  • Reviews plans for a new or substantial alteration to pools.
  • Regulates and approves equipment for replacement and use.
  • Inspects construction and provides guidance during the process.
  • Maintains lists of ODH-approved automatic chemical controllers, interior surface colors, and lifeguard, first-aid, & CPR training.
  • All logos on the interior of a public swimming pool must be approved by ODH prior to installation or application.

Ohio Department of Health
Bureau of Environmental Health and Radiation Protection, Public Swimming Pools

246 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

General information: 614-644-7438

Construction inspection requests: 614-644-7468

Engineering: 614-644-7527

Ohio Administrative Code 3701-31-01: Definitions
Private residential swimming pool
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 the residents and their non-paying guests. "Dwelling" includes an individual room or suite of rooms at a hotel, motel, or other establishment providing temporary lodging.
Public bathing area
An impounding reservoir, basin, lake, pond, creek, river, or other similar natural body of water.
Public spa
Any public swimming pool that is typically operated as a smaller, higher-temperature pool for recreational or nonmedical uses. "Smaller" means less than five thousand gallons in volume; "higher temperature" means greater than ninety degrees Fahrenheit.
Public swimming pool
Any indoor or outdoor structure, chamber, or tank containing a body of water intended to be used collectively for swimming, diving, or bathing and operated by any person (owner, lessee, operator, licensee, or concessionaire), regardless of whether a fee is charged. It does not mean any public bathing area or private residential swimming pool. Within these rules, "public swimming pool" collectively means a public swimming pool, wading pool, public spa, special use pool, or spray ground, unless specifically identified.
Special use pool
A public swimming pool containing slides, wave-generating equipment, or other special features that necessitate different design and safety requirements. It does not include any water slide catch pool or wave-generating pool at a public amusement area licensed and inspected by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ORC 1711.50–1711.57). "Special feature" includes, but is not limited to, slides, wave-generating equipment, a zero-depth entrance, a slow river, fountains, climbing walls, play features, or other water features.
Spray ground
A special use public swimming pool for bathing and/or interaction with fountains, sprays, jets, and other special features designed without standing water when the fountains are turned off, so that users have full body exposure with circulated water.
Wading pool
A public swimming pool that is a maximum of twenty-four inches deep.