[Adopted 12-9-1958 as Ord. No. 630]
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words shall, for the purpose of this ordinance, have the meanings herein indicated:
FENCE
An enclosure. Such enclosure shall be at least four feet in height constructed of masonry, wood or metal, with apertures no larger than three inches, equipped with a self-closing gate and complete with a key-operated lock.
FOOTING
The spreading course at the base or bottom of a wall or other construction.
FRONT YARD
The area of a lot lying between the street and the dwelling, extending across the full width of the lot and, in case of a corner lot, extending the full depth of the lot.
PERSON
Any person, copartnership, association, firm or corporation.
PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL
Any body of water, tank or receptacle for water, whether artificially or semiartificially constructed, or portable, having a depth at any point greater than two feet, used or intended to be used for swimming or bathing solely by the owner, his family and guests of the household, and constructed, installed, established or maintained outside any building in or above the ground upon any premises as an accessory use to the residence. Portable wading pools under two feet in depth are excluded herefrom.
WADING POOL
Any artificially constructed pool not designed or used for swimming with a maximum depth of under two feet.
It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, install, establish, maintain, alter, remodel or reconstruct a private swimming pool or wading pool as herein defined without having obtained a permit therefor in the manner prescribed in § 126-3 herein. However, no permit shall be required for a wading pool of the portable type with a depth of under two feet.
[Amended 2-14-1978 by Ord. No. 990]
A. 
Application for permits shall be submitted to the Township Code Enforcement Officer, together with two sets of plans, and specifications setting forth the details, area and depth of the proposed construction in all of its parts, together with a plot plan showing the location of the pool on the lot, the location of buildings on the lot, the fencing, existing and planned, and the height and aperture dimensions thereof, and all open spaces required by this ordinance, drawn to scale and dimensioned. Applications shall be made on forms supplied by the Building Inspector, accompanied by a fee as follows:
[Amended 6-9-1981 by Ord. No. 1049; 12-29-1987 by Ord. No. 1176; 9-8-2015 by Ord. No. 1560]
(1) 
In-ground pools: as indicated in Chapter 40, Fee Schedule, of the Code of the Township of Springfield.
(2) 
Aboveground pools: as indicated in Chapter 40, Fee Schedule, of the Code of the Township of Springfield.
B. 
Upon approval of plans and specifications by the Building Inspector, one set of each so marked will be returned to the applicant and must be kept on the site with the permit and be available at all times to the Building Inspector or other officers of the township. No change in the same shall be made without notification to and approval by the Building Inspector.
The Building Inspector shall make such determinations of the plans and specifications submitted to assure the compliance with all requirements of this ordinance, the Building Code and the Springfield Township Zoning Code.[1] He shall determine the mode of construction to make certain that the contemplated work is structurally sound. Where necessary, he shall require suitable footings.
A. 
The Building Inspector shall determine that the method or manner of emptying the pool and the connections of such drain to the sanitary sewer, storm sewer or open stream or upon the land is not contrary to the public interest, or maintenance of the public sanitary sewer system or storm sewer system, or to other property owners.
B. 
After investigation and upon such advice and assistance from the Township Engineer and other township officials as the Building Inspector may deem necessary, the Building Inspector shall issue the permit.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 20, Building Code, and Ch. 143, Zoning.
All swimming pools shall be constructed of materials so that they shall be waterproof and easily cleaned. Construction and design shall be such that they may be maintained and operated as to be clean and sanitary at all times. The owner of every private swimming pool shall be responsible to maintain said pool in such condition as to prevent breaks in the pool chassis or water from the pool overflowing onto adjacent property. Footings shall be provided to adequately carry the proposed structure. If concrete blocks are used in construction, they must be laid with masonry wall reinforcement (Durowall or equal) every second course of blocks. There must be a minimum footing under block walls and poured concrete walls of eight inches by 14 inches with two reinforcing rods 3/8 inch in diameter.
There shall be no physical connection between a potable public or private water supply system and such private swimming pools or wading pools at a point below the maximum waterline of the pool or to a recirculating or heating system of said pool.
The discharge of water from private swimming pools into the sanitary sewer system shall be permitted only after a plumbing permit for the same has been regularly applied for and received in accordance with the Township Plumbing Code,[1] and such other township ordinances as may apply. Approval of an application shall not be given if it is feasible to discharge water from a pool into a storm sewer or stream, or to use such water for lawn sprinkling.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 96, Plumbing Code.
Where approval is obtained to discharge water from a private swimming pool or wading pool into the sanitary sewerage system, the owner, lessee or occupant of said pool may discharge the water only at the time or times designated and allocated by the Plumbing Inspector[1] and endorsed on the permit. The purpose of this requirement is to prevent a strain upon the sewer system by controlling and distributing the discharge of water.
[1]
Editor's Note: As to the Plumbing Inspector, see Ch. 98, Plumbing Inspector and Board of Examiners.
[Amended 6-12-1973 by Ord. No. 880; 7-13-1976 by Ord. No. 954]
No private swimming pool shall be constructed nearer than 10 feet to a property line, nor eight feet to a cellar, basement or foundation of a structure, the floor of which is more than three feet below the ground, nor 35 feet to a dwelling house or apartment on a neighboring property, nor shall it be constructed in the front yard of the property. Accessory buildings such as locker rooms, bathhouses, cabanas, shower rooms, toilets and other physical facilities or equipment incident to the operation of any private swimming pool shall conform to the requirements of the Township Building and Zoning Codes.
Every private swimming pool shall be completely surrounded by a fence. Every person maintaining a private swimming pool shall keep the gate closed and securely locked at all times when said pool is not in use by the person maintaining the same, his family or his guests. Within 30 days after the effective date of this ordinance, any person maintaining a private swimming pool within the limits of Springfield Township which has been constructed prior thereto shall erect a fence surrounding said pool.
[Amended 7-12-1977 by Ord. No. 977]
A. 
All electrical work performed in connection with a pool installation shall comply with the National Electrical Code, and in particular with Article 680, Paragraphs 680-1 through 680-31, and Article 250, Paragraph 250-113. Upon completion of the pool, a copy of the approval of the electrical installation from an authorized electrical inspection agency shall be submitted to the Building Inspector prior to use of the swimming pool.
B. 
No artificial lighting shall be maintained or operated in connection with private swimming pools in such a manner as to be a nuisance or an annoyance to neighboring properties.
Every private swimming pool shall be equipped with a life ring, life belt or life preserver available for emergency use.
All private swimming pools shall be drained and maintained free of water during the period that the property is vacant.
A. 
Every private swimming pool constructed, installed, established or maintained or to be constructed, installed, established or maintained in the Township of Springfield shall, at all times, comply with the requirements of the local Board of Health. Any nuisance or hazard to health which may exist or develop in or in consequence of or in connection with any such private swimming pool shall be abated and removed by the owner, lessee or occupant of the premises on which said pool is located within 10 days of receipt of notice from the Building Inspector or the Health Officer of the Township of Springfield. It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector and the Health Officer, respectively, to enforce the provisions of this ordinance.
B. 
The Building Inspector and/or Health Officer or any of their assistants or deputies shall have the right to enter any premises or any building or other structure for the performance of their duties to ascertain compliance with this ordinance.
Whenever the owner of any swimming pool about to be or in the course of being erected or altered takes exception to the decision of the Building Inspector in refusing to approve the issuance of a permit or in refusing to approve the manner of construction or the kinds of materials to be used in the construction or alteration or to his decision as to its safety or its compliance with the provisions of this ordinance, such owners or their duly authorized attorney or agent may, within 10 days after such decision, take an appeal therefrom to the Committee of Building Regulations of the Board of Township Commissioners. Such appeal shall be in writing, shall state the decision of the Building Inspector and the reasons for the exception taken thereto, shall be verified by affidavit and shall be filed with the Township Secretary. The person appealing shall have the right to appear and to be heard, if he states his desire so to do in his written appeal. A prompt decision of such appeal shall be made by the Committee on Building Regulations or Board of Commissioners and shall be duly recorded and the decision shall be final.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 126-16, Violations and penalties, was repealed 4-21-1987 by Ord. No. 1156. For current penalty provisions, see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II.