New rules for Ottawa homeowners with swimming pools
Posted May 10, 2013 11:33:04 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – A new bylaw is in effect for city of Ottawa homeowners with a swimming pool, hot tub or fish pond in their yard.
Existing rules stated it had to be enclosed by a fence at least five feet tall.
Now the city is taking it one step further according to Arlene Gregoire with the city of Ottawa.
She tells 1310News, those gates will have to be locked when the pool isn’t in use.
“Most of the drowning events was the result of a gate not properly functioning or a gate that was left unlocked”.
The new rules come from the results of an inquest into the drowning of an Orleans toddler in a backyard pool in an unlicensed daycare.
In terms of hot tubs, Gregoire says if owners have one of the sturdy lockable covers, they are compliant.
Pool enclosure rules apply to all bodies of water two feet deep or more.
The city will be sending out it’s summer students to visit homeowners and remind them of the new regulations.
