As Memorial Day weekend quickly approaches, Montgomery County homeowners are diving into pool season—some sprucing up their backyard sanctuaries, others pondering the addition of a brand-new aquatic haven. The Department of Permitting Services (DPS) in Montgomery County recently launched a podcast episode aptly titled "Pools, Permits and Safety," to navigate the waters of pool ownership, emphasizing permits, barriers, and the importance of safety.
In this episode, DPS's Customer Support and Outreach Division Chief Gail Lucas takes the microphone alongside Residential Inspections Manager David Burch to explore what it means to own a pool responsibly and safely. As Burch clarifies, "This is a really important topic especially at this time of year," the Montgomery County press release reported. Lightweight pools without circulating equipment can skip the permit process if they're less than 24 inches deep. But to not leave safety adrift, Burch insists on the need for these pools to "be empty" when they aren't being used.
According to the County's press release, DPS has established clear guidelines for pool barriers: a 60-inch-high fence for pools installed after 1990 and at least a 42-inch barrier, or an automatic pool cover, for those that predate 1990. If a door or window from the house opens directly into the pool area, alarms must be installed to prevent unsupervised access by children—another layer of defense in the crusade for pool safety.
More than just a casual chat, the podcast delves into the nuts and bolts of pool construction and maintenance. From permits to inspections and unexpected design changes, the DPS wants to ensure homeowners don't sail too far from safe harbor. "Other topics covered during the podcast include construction of the pool and how important it is to let DPS staff know of any design or orientation changes to the pool or pool equipment to ensure they do not create any setback issues," the Montgomery County release mentioned.
