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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Public Swimming Pools

Contact the Public Swimming Pools Program

*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF) and Microsoft Word format (DOC).  The free Adobe Reader or  Microsoft Word Viewer may be required to view these files. All PDFs on this page open in new window.

 

Renew your Public Pool Operating Permit online 

TO INQUIRE ABOUT ADDITIONAL PERMIT RENEWAL OPTIONS, REQUEST A COPY, CHECK THE STATUS, OR CHANGE OWNER INFORMATION OF YOUR PUBLIC POOL OPERATING PERMIT; TO REPORT A POOL RELATED HEALTH OR SAFETY VIOLATION, REQUEST COPIES OF ROUTINE INSPECTION REPORTS; TO REQUEST A RE-INSPECTION FOR AN EXISTING PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL - PLEASE CONTACT THE LOCAL FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFICE IN THE COUNTY THE POOL IS LOCATED.

Download the County Pool Program Contact List (pdf<1mb).

 

Public Swimming Pools Overview 

To protect the public health the department has adopted sanitation and safety standards for public pools in Chapter 64E-9, Florida Administrative Code (opens in a new window), and enforces those rules through the issuance of operating permits and inspections.  The 64E-9 Rule in tab below was effective 7/20/16 and a section was revised 6/11/2023.  Permitting and inspections are done by the Environmental Health Section of the Florida Department of Health in each county (opens in new window) Section 64E-9.004 was revised with updates and Swim-Up Bar standards, effective date: 6/11/2023.

  • Authority: Chapter 514, Florida Statutes
  • Rule: Chapter 64E-9, FAC
  • Public Swimming Pool and Bathing Place Advisory Review Board - Pool Variance Board Purpose, Membership, Agendas & Notices of Meetings
  • FOR THE PUBLIC - inspections & fencing
  • Chemical Safety
  • FOR BUSINESS - where to send pool plans, health & safety criteria
  • FOR BUSINESS - permits
  • Public Pool Service Technicians
  • Fecal Accidents
  • Forms
  • CHECKLISTS AND BRIEFINGS – UPDATED 2023
  • Entrapment protection
  • Epsom Salt Float Tanks
  • Virginia Graeme Baker Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act
  • LIFEGUARD AND SWIMMING INSTRUCTOR TRAINING PROGRAMS
  • Links
  • FAQ
The Department of Health is responsible under Chapter 514, Florida Statutes (opens in a new window), for the routine surveillance of water quality and safety at all public swimming pools.

Public Swimming Pool and Bathing Place Advisory Review Board

The DOH Public Swimming Pool Advisory Variance Board meets on the second Wednesday of odd numbered months. Meetings are conducted via conference call beginning at 9 a.m. on the meeting date.

The 2024 Calendar for the meetings is shown below. View a PDF copy.

calendar meetings 2024 pools png

Complete, collated variance packages are due in the State Health Office (SHO) no later than 2 p.m. on February 28, 2024.


Download Variance Application DH 4080 (pdf <1mb, opens in new window)

For more detailed information, and to avoid any delay in processing your application(s) please refer to the Department of Health Public Swimming Pool Variance Application Submission Checklist  (pdf <1mb, opens in new window)

In order to be placed on the next scheduled Variance Board meeting, you will need to submit: 8 collated hard copy sets of the completed variance application, with any supporting documentation, no later than 2 p.m. on the deadline dates, above.

When sending your variance application(s), each set of eight (8) sets must be complete.

If you will be speaking on behalf of a client, a letter of owner authorization, with their contact information including email address will be required before a variance will be processed.
Include a check, made out to the Florida Department of Health, for the $300 application fee.

Please also email an electronic copy of your completed application(s) to: E-mail: DOH Pool Variances 

If you are requesting a variance for more than one public pool, at the same property, even for identical issues, each separate water body must have a separate variance application with a separate $300 fee and 8 copies of the above-required Documents.

If you have any questions, please call (850) 901-6499 or email DOH Pool Variances  Note: Under Florida law, e-mails and written correspondence are public records.

USPS Mailing Address: Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin A-08, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1710

FedEx/UPS Shipping Address: Department of Health, 4025 Esplanade Way, Floor 2 Room 220-A, Tallahassee, FL 32311

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 3 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting the Variance Coordinator. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

 Membership: Section 514.028 of the Florida Statutes requires the Governor’s appointed advisory board shall be comprised of:

(a) A representative from the office of licensure and certification of the department. (Vacant)

(b) A representative from the county health departments. (Vacant)

(c) Three representatives from the swimming pool construction industry. (Incumbents Jim LePetrie, P.E., Wet Engineering; Fred “Corky” Williams, National Pools; and Michael Kelly, Kelly Pools, Inc.)

(d) A representative from the public lodging industry. (Incumbent Jeff Kosik, Walt Disney World)

(e) A representative from a county or local building department. (Incumbent Alan C. Plante, CBO, Orange County Division of Building Safety)

To inquire to become a board member, please visit the Governor’s Appointment Office’s website (opens in new window) 

Resources:Download a variance application (opens in new window, pdf<1mb)

View the most recent inspection results for your public pool

Pool fencing

Private pool fencing criteria to prevent drowning that is referenced in Chapter 515, Florida Statutes: CPSC Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools (pdf <1mb) (opens in new window)

Where do I send my pool plans?

As of October 1, 2014, changes to Florida Statutes 514 and 553 require that an application for an operating permit must be submitted to the Department of Health before the Building Department can issue a construction or modification permit for a public pool.  The new application form DH4159 and the Permitting Sequence is found in the next section below.  The Building Department also cannot issue a Certificate of Completion or Occupancy until the Department of Health issues the operating permit. 

We recommend you contact the Department at least a week before the planned opening. Program office staff is available in Tallahassee 850-901-6517; or Orlando 850-274-2928 to answer any questions.  View a map of where to send to your pool plans (pdf <1mb, opens in new window).

COVID19 Best Practices for Voluntary Pool and Spa Closure

 

An individual who services a public pool by maintaining the cleanliness, water quality and chemical balance of public pools shall be certified. To be certified an individual must demonstrate knowledge of public pools. Examples of such knowledge include: pool cleaning, general pool maintenance, make-up water supply, bacteriological, chemical and physical quality of water and water purification, testing, treatment, and disinfection procedures. To ensure that the pool technicians are knowledgeable, said technician shall attend a training course of national recognition that is approved by the department of at least 16 hours in length and shall pass a test acceptable to the department. Florida Statutes section 514.075 allows the owner or owner’s direct employee to operate a pool without being certified, and allows a pool servicing contractor who is licensed under Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes. 

Florida Department of Health Approved Public Pool Service Technician Certification Courses (pdf <1mb, opens in a new windows)

View Tips on preventing Fecal Accidents and Response Procedures in the event of a Fecal Accident (opens in a new window), as well as help in determining the time frame and how much liquid chlorine should be added to your pool to sanitize and re-open the pool after an accident.

CDC fecal incident response guidelines (pdf)

 

These forms are available for download in a "fill-in" rich text format (rtf).  If you are not familiar with problems that may arise using this type of form, please download the read_me (rtf) (<1mb and opens in new window) file.

All rtfs and pdfs and MS docs are <1mb and open in a new window

DH4157 Pool Owner/Operator Verification of Entrapment Safety Features (pdf<1mb, opens in new window)

DH4158 Bathing Place Bacteria Advisory (pdf<1mb opens in new window)

DH4159 (Formerly DH918) Application For Swimming Pool Operating Permit (pdf<1mb, opens in new window)

DH4159 Application For Swimming Pool Operating Permit Instructions (pdf<1mb, opens in new window)

DH form 921 (rtf <1mb) Monthly Swimming Pool Report

DH form 1704 (rtf <1mb) Application for Swimming Pool Exempt Status >32 Units

DH form 4065 (rtf <1mb) Application for Swimming Pool Exempt Status  32 Units or Less

DH form 4080 (rtf <1mb) Application for Variance from Chapter 64E-9, F.A.C., Swimming Pools and Bathing Places

DH form 4080 (pdf <1mn) Application for Variance from Chapter 64E-9, F.A.C., Swimming Pools and Bathing Places- Fillable pdf version

DOH Public Pool Resurfacing Notification Form (pdf, <1mb, fillable)

DOH Public Pool Lighting Certification Form (pdf<1mb)

Section 514.0315, Florida Statutes (opens in a new window), requires all public swimming pools and spas to be equipped with an anti-entrapment system or device that complies with American Society of Mechanical

Engineers/American National Standards Institute standard A112.19.8, or any successor standard.  All new pools and spas are required to use a gravity drainage system that uses a collector tank.  The law provides the owner or operator of a public pool or spa several options for pools and spas built before January 1, 1993. 

All pdfs are < 1mb and open in a new window)

Verification Form for Entrapment Protection (pdf)

Safety Checklist for Safety Vacuum Release System (pdf)

Safety Checklist for Suction Limiting Vent System (pdf)

To protect the public health and safety, the Florida Department of Health is responsible for safety and water quality at public swimming pools.

In Section 514.011(2), Florida Statutes, a public swimming pool is: … defined as: a watertight structure … located either indoors or outdoors, used … by humans, .... Additionally, a ... public pool shall mean a conventional pool, spa-type pool, wading pool, special purpose pool, or water recreation attraction….

Epsom Salt Float Tank(s) fall under the jurisdiction and regulation responsibilities of the Florida Department of Health as pools.

Detailed criteria for public pool construction design, equipment requirements, pool operation, and water quality may be found in  the Florida Building Code under Section 454 Swimming Pools And Bathing Places, 454.1 Public swimming pools and bathing places, and in Chapter 64E-9, Public Swimming Pools and Bathing Places, Florida Administrative Code.

The Department has, statewide, approved specific criteria and requirements, through the code variance process allowed by law, for Epsom Salt float tank manufacturers and specific site installations. The manufacturer of equipment which is not included on the statewide list must submit a Variance application and supporting engineering information to the Department for consideration by the Advisory Review Board.

A DOH permit to operate the float tank is required, and some require building department pool or electrical permits so confirm this with your city or county building department.

The following manufacturers have been granted specific code section variances for their float tank or float room for statewide use, and the variances include requirements for the float tank owners too:

Royal Spa Float Tank Final Order Granting Petition for Permanent Variance 7-27-2015 (pdf<1mb, opens in new window)

Royal Spa Corp Float Tank Statewide Variance 3488 12-21-2020-signed (pdf<1mb, opens in new window)

3385 Superior Float Tanks (Statewide Variance) (pdf<1mb, opens in new window)

Statewide Variance Request, Application #3060 - Floataway Epsom Salt Float Tank Products (pdf<1mb, opens in new window)

To ensure compliance with both state codes, facility owners may need engineering assistance from the device manufacturer for installation and approval of an Epsom Salt pool.

NSF Float Tank microbial water test 2012 pdf (<1mb pdf)

MgSO4 NSF WQTD Report (<1mb pdf) 

A law to prevent entrapment drowning and injury at all public pools in the United States that took effect on December 19, 2008 and requires retrofit actions.

All pdfs open in a new window and are <1mb.

Pool Owner/Operator Verification of Entrapment Safety Features (pdf <1mb)

Code Compliant Drain List by Company (pdf <1mb)

Consumer Product Safety Commission Pool Safety website (opens in new window)

Safety Vaccum Release System (SVRS) Testing Guide (pdf<1mb)

Any individual or organization that wishes to provide a Lifeguard or Swimming Instructor training and certification course in the State of Florida must use a “Nationally Recognized Aquatic Training Program” or equivalent as defined in 64E-9.008(2)(a)2 of the Florida Administrative Code.

Florida Department of Health Approved Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor Programs (pdf<1mb, opens in new window)

For information on submitting your Lifeguard or Swimming Instructor training and certification program for verification of equivalence to “Nationally Recognized Aquatic Training Program” standards please contact Bob Vincent, Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Mail Bin A08, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1710, (850) 245-4578,
Please note: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from state officials regarding state business are public records available to the public and media upon request. Your e-mail communications may therefore be subject to public disclosure.
Email us

CDC Healthy Swimming website - This Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website provides information on recreational water illnesses and what the public, health professionals and pool facility operators can do to prevent their transmission: CDC Healthy Swimming website (https://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming) (opens in new window)

USEPA Ultraviolet Disinfectant Guidance Manual 11/2006, publication # EPA 815-R-06-007

ANSI Certified Lab’s Product Listing websites for NSF/ANSI Standard 60 Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals- Health Effects.

NSF International (opens in new window)

Water Quality Association (opens in new window)

UL LLC (Underwriters Laboratories) (opens in new window)

ANSI Certified Lab’s Product Listing websites for  NSF/ANSI Standard 50 Swimming Pool Products

NSF International (opens in new window)

IAPMO R&T (opens in new window)

2018 US CDC report opens in new window on disease outbreaks associated with treated recreational water nationally for the period 2000-2014



 

 

 

At what temperature should I operate my pool or spa?

​To prevent heat stroke, the State of Florida requires that swimming pools (or spa pools) with heaters operate at a maximum temperature of 104° F. Spa pool rules must also state that the maximum use is 15 minutes. A clock must be visible from the spa pool. There are no other temperature requirements.

The Department of Health does not have a recommended temperature range, as the "ideal" temperature depends upon many factors. These include the activity, age of the patrons, the difference in temperature between the water and surrounding air, and personal preference. It is considered something best worked out between the pool patrons and management.

Does the state have a rule against children in diapers going in public swimming pools?

​Florida has no specific rule against children in diapers entering public swimming pools.  The use of swim diapers is recommended for children who are not toilet trained.

Can service dogs go into public swimming pools or the pool area?

Service animals are allowed onto the pool deck, but ​not into the pool. While service dogs are generally allowed to accompany their owners​ anywhere the public would normally be allowed to go, they may be excluded under certain conditions, such as a threat to the health and safety of others. ​The Department of Health considers any animal in a public pool a public health threat.

How do I change the ownership records for a public swimming pool or spa?

Download a copy of form DH4159 (pdf<1mb, opens in new window). You only need to fill out sections 1 and 2, then note any additional changes in the Remarks Section. Send the signed and dated form to the Department of Health office in the county that the pool is located in. This must be done within 30 days of the ownership change or a fee will be assessed. View County Health Department contact information.

What determines when public swimming pools can remain open?

Pool owners choose when their pools can be used.  There are no required hours that a public swimming pool must be open. However, it cannot be open at night unless the pool and pool deck have proper lighting for the safety of patrons.  The lighting above and below water must be approved by the local building department after a professional conducts a field test. Then, "night swimming approved" will be noted on the pool permit. State code defines night swimming as 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise.

Pool hours must be posted on the rules sign.