Mandatory Pool Law Now in Effect for New York State

If you are a homeowner with a pool in your yard, there are laws from New York State that you need to follow and one thing that you need to install.

There is a law that mandates you in most New York State municipalities to have a pool alarm in your newly installed pool on a residential property. Now that the kids can all walk, we had our parents install alarms at the their pools. If the pool door ever opens than a super loud alarm will go off that you can hear even a couple of doors down. I am sure that some neighbors do not love the fact that it always goes off, but it is certainly great for peace of mind.

There are some requirements that are needed per New York State:

• It must detect any person entering the pool.
• Must be audible and loud enough for people to her at another location on the property.
• The device needs to be permanent.

According to the Town of Alden:

With our weather heating up, people's thoughts are turning toward the idea of purchasing their own swimming pool. The NYS Department of State Codes Division has advised all municipalities that all residential and/or commercial swimming pools installed, constructed or, substantially modified after December 14, 2006 must be equipped with an approved pool alarm.

It seems that New York State gives the power to each individual municipality  to set their own laws, although there are some basic blanket recommendations from New York State:

In most cases, a pool or spa, or the area where it is located, must be completely surrounded by an intact fence or barrier at least 48 inches high; gates must be self-closing and self-latching; one or more pool alarms, door alarms and/or gate alarms may be required; and the pool or spa must have anti-entrapment drain covers that are compliant with the Pool and Spa Safety Act, the State Uniform Code, the New York City Building Code, and any applicable local law, ordinance, rule or regulation.