Is your pool up to code? Here's a review of Quebec's rules
Summer weather is fast approaching. But before you dip a toe in the backyard pool, make sure it's up to code with Quebec's safety regulations.
Quebec's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act applies to all backyard pools holding 60 centimetres or more water, whether in-ground, semi-in-ground, above-ground or demountable (inflatable or other).
Here's what you need to know:
FENCING
An enclosure, i.e. a fence, must surround all inground and semi-inground pools, as well as any above-ground pools less than 1.2 metres high and demountable pools less than 1.4 m high.
The fence must be at least 1.2 m tall, with bars no more than 10 cm apart. If it's a chain-link fence, the holes can't measure more than 30 millimetres across.
(Quebec/Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation)
The wall of your house or garage can serve as part of the enclosure, as long as doors don't provide access to the pool. If a door is in the way, additional fencing should be installed around it.
If using a wall as part of the enclosure, windows must be more than 3 m off the ground, unless they have a limited opening of 10 cm or less.
All of the enclosure's gates must be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching security device. The same goes for platforms or patios used to access above-ground pools.
(Quebec/Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation)
Hedges and bushes never count as an enclosure.
CLIMBING RISKS
Any device linked to the pool's operation should be installed at least 1 m from the enclosure wall, as well as the pool wall, if applicable.
This is to prevent children from climbing the fixture to either get over the fence or into the pool.
(Quebec/Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation)
Exceptions can be made if the device is hidden to prevent access to the water -- for example, in a shed.
In addition, pipes linking the device to the pool should be flexible and installed in a way that doesn't enable climbing.
All inground and semi-inground pools must have a ladder or steps to enter or exit the water.
Ladders that access the pool must contain a safety door that closes and latches automatically.
(Quebec/Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation)
PERMITS
If you want to build, install or replace a pool, a permit is required from your municipality. If you live in Montreal, click here to learn more.
The same goes for the installation of diving boards or the construction of a structure that prevents access to the pool.
FINES
Anyone who violates Quebec's pool safety rules is subject to a $500 to $700 fine. Subsequent offences are subject to penalties of $700 to $1,000.
RULES APPLY TO ALL POOLS, OLD AND NEW
The Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act now applies to all pools on the territory, regardless of when they were installed. The change is a response to coroners' recommendations following several child drownings in recent years.
Pools installed before Nov. 1, 2010 were previously exempted; owners now have until Sept. 30, 2025 to make the necessary adjustments.
These are just the basics of Quebec's regulations; click here to read the bylaw in full (English), here for a visual guide (in French), and here for a list of frequently asked questions (English).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.