SWIMMING POOL PERMITS
The following is an excerpt from the BUILDING CODE FOR THE TOWN OF MILLIS, Section 19 (swimming pools) became effective October 11, 1968, and was amended in 1971.
Building Permit and Board of Health Permit applications may be obtained at the Selectmen’s office. Both applications must be submitted in duplicate to the Board of Health for initial approval. Applications for swimming pool permits must first have the approval of the Board of Health and Superintendent of Streets before being acted upon by the Building inspector.
The Board of Health regular meetings are at 7 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month in Niagara Hall. (For summer information, call 376-2394 or 376-2634) . The Building Inspector holds office hours in the Town Hall from 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings – 376-4040. Permit applications may be submitted directly to the Board of Health or may be left at the Selectmen’s Office.
Permit Fees are: Board of Health – $25.00
Construction – Residential – minimum $15 first $2,000;
$3 per $1,000 thereafter
Commercial – $3 per $1,000, minim= $Ioo
Please submit separate payments with the applications – checks payable to “Town of Millis’-.
So that action on your application is not delayed, please be sure to:
1. Fill in all blanks on both application forms.
2. Submit two sketches showing locations of pool and other construction
on the property, lot lines and where water will be drained.
Please note all electrical wiring and lighting require electrical permits. These
may be obtained from the Wiring Inspector (same hours, location and phone number as
the Building Inspector) or from the Selectmen’s Office.
MILLIS BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SECTION 19. SWIMMING POOLS
DEFINITION. “Swimming Pool”: A body of water contained in an artificial or semi-
artificial receptacle whether in or above the ground, or created by artificial means
from a natural watercourse, and all appurtenances, equipment, appliances and other
facilities for its operation, maintenance or use, used or intended to be used for
swimming, wading or recreational bathing, but not including portable pools incapable
of containing a depth of water exceeding twenty-four inches at any point.
RESIDENTIAL POOLS, Residential swimming pools, whether located indoor or outdoors,
are declared to be structures, the construction, alteration, maintenance, operation
and use of which shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 413 of the General
Laws, as from time to time amended, and to the provisions of the Building Code so
far as applicable. A residential swimming pool is a swimming pool used or intended
to be used solely by the owner or tenant thereof and his family, and by friends
invited to use it without payment of any fee.
PLANS. An extra copy of all plans, specifications, and pertinent explanatory
matter, required to be submitted to the Building Inspector in connection with an
application hereafter filed alteration, addition, remodeling or other improvement
to an application to the Building Inspector and shall be referred by him to the
Board of Health (in this article, together with his duly authorized representatives
referred to as the Health Department). No such permit shall be issued unless and
until the Board of Health shall have transmitted to the Building Inspector its written
approval of such applications including a suitable endorsement 8n such plans and
specifications. The Board of Health shall review such plans, specifications and other
information to determine whether they suitably provide for safe-guarding the health
and safety of the users and of the public.
The Board of Health is authorized and empowered to adopt regulations establishing
standards of water purity and alkalinity and governing circulation of water in and
cleansing of residential swimming pools.
APPROVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS. Every application for a permit shall clearly
show the means to be provided for draining the swimming pool including overflow
gutters. All such information shall be referred by the Building Inspector to the
Superintendent of Streets and no such permit shall be issued until the Superintendent
of Streets shall have given to the Building Inspector his approval and opinion in
writing that the proposed drainage will be adequate for the puroose and may 13e
employed without overtaxing any public drainage facilities involved or creating
drainage problems at other locations. The Superintendent of Streets approval may be
conditioned upon the use of such drainage facilities only within certain hours and in
such case any permit issued by the Building Inspector shall be so conditioned.
ENCLOSURE. Every outdoor swimming pool shall be completely surrounded at all times,
whether or not the same be filled with water, bv a fence or wall not less than five
feet in height, except that fences or walls in existence at the time this ordinance
becomes effective shall satisfy this requirement if thev are not less than four feet
in height. Each such fence or wall shall be so constructed as not to have openings,
holes or gaps larger than four inches in any dimension except for doors and gates and
except for picket fences in which case, however, the gaps between pickets shall not
exceed four inches.
All fences shall be of wood or chain link or approved equal. Every fence shall be
substantially anchored to posts set into the ground. Wood posts to be set in the two
feet and metal posts shall be surrounded by concrete sufficient to structurally anchor
posts. A building may be used as part of such enclosure.
section 19. Swimming Pools Page 2
All gates or doors opening through such enclosures shall be of not less than the same
height as the fence or wall and shall be ecuipped with a self-closing and self-latching
device located not more than one foot below the top of the fence or wall for keeping
the door gate or door securely closed at all times when not in actual use, excent that
the door of any dwelling which forms a part of the enclosure need not be so equipped.
Each such gate or door shall be kept locked at all times when the swimming pool en-
closure is not in use. Sixty (60) days after enactment of this law, the provisions of
this section shall apply to pools already in existence.
ELECTRICAL. Lighting, filter systems and related electrical wiring shall require an
electrical permit and shall be done in accordance with the National and Massachusetts
Electrical Codes. All lighting of an outdoor pool or its enclosure shall be directed
at the pool and the source of light shall be shielded from view from any street or
adjoining property.
APPLICABILITY OF SECTIONS. The provisions of these sections excepting under “Enclosure”
shall not become applicable to swimming pools in existence on the date of enactment of
said sections until the date six (6) months subsequent to such date of enactment.
SET-BACKS. Every outdoor swimming pool hereafter constructed shall be setback not
less than the requirements for Accessory Structures under the V-3 special regulations
for front, side and rear lot lines of the premises on which it is constructed. The
setback distance shall be measured to the nearest point of the pool including overflow
gutters but exclusive of walk-ways or other poolside areas. No water shall be put into
any pool until an occupancy permit is issued by the Building inspector except that the
Building inspector may, at his discretion, permit water to be put into the pool during
construction.
No existing swimming pool shall be enlarged so as to violate any of the foregoing set-
back requirements.
V-3 ACCESSORY BUILDINGS
No accessory building or structure shall be located within the required front yard area.
No accessory building shall be located in any side yard area nearer to the side lot line
than fifteen (15) feet in Res. I and 11 Dist. and ten (10) feet in Res. III Dist., or in
a rear yard area nearer to the rear lot line than fifteen (1-5) feet, or nearer to another
‘principal or accessory building than fifteen (15) feet.
When all the above has been adhered to and the Wiring Inspector has signed the Building
Permit card, the Building Inspector must be called before the pool can be filled.
Please be aware that this permit expires in six (6) months, and all work must be
completed and card signed by the wiring and Building Inspectors or a new permit
application will be required.
PLEASE BE SURE TO ANSWER ALL ITEMS. Amt. Rec’d. BY-
Cash Check
TOWN OF MILLIS
SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION
Date
1. Owner’s name and phone number
2. Owner’s address
3. Builder’s name and phone number
4. Builder’s address
5. Locatior. of lot: No. Street Size of lot
6. Zoning District
7. Use of Pool Residential Private
S. Size of pool No. of Ft. – Length Width Max. Depth
9. Type of Construction
iO. How near the front street line?
11. How near principal building? Accessary building?
12. How near line of adjoining lot? Right Left Rear
13. Will the building be erected on solid or filled land?
14. Heated: Yes No Type of Heat
15. Water Supply: Municipal Well
16. Drainage System–Please describe
Overflow Gutter? Describe
17. Designate – Dry well location (at least 25′ from pool and 15’ from lot line)
18. Enclosure will conform with Code (not less than 5 ft. in height) Yes
19. Estimated cost of construction $
20. Will this pool conform to Zoning & Building laws?
Signature oi Applicant
The Building Insuector must be given 48 hours notice for inspections.
———————————————————————————————
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
Comments: Approved
Superintendent of Streets
Board of Health approval received?
Yes No
Form 53172
44
SWIMMING POOL REGULATIOIIS
Section 1.
No swimming pool shall be installed or constructed until a permit has first been
obtained from the Board of Health or its agent.
Section 2.
Definition – Residential Swimming Pool. Any constructed pool, permanent or portable,
which is intended for non-commercial use as a swimming pool by the owner’s family and
friends.
Section 3.
The application for a permit for a swimming pool installation shall be filed in dup-
licate and shall be on such form and in such detail as the Board of Health shall prescribe.
The applicant must submit, before a permit is issued, a plan of the lot showing the layout
of the installation in detail indicating elevations, grades, material used, construction
details, sewage and drainage systems, location of the pool in relation to the house, other
building and lot lines, type and capacity of filter where necessary and location of the
dry well. When a permit is issued, one copy will be filed with the Building Inspector
and one copy retained at the Office of the Board of Health.
Section 4.
Any permit issued shall be subject to such conditions as to location as mav appear
therein to the express requirements of these regulations and to such further conditions
not inconsistent with these regulations and designed to implement them as the agent of
the Board of Health shall prescribe for the purpose of preserving health and safety by
insuring the proper construction and maintenance of the pool.
Section 5.
All swimming pools hereinafter constructed shall not be less than 25 feet from
the closest proximity of any part of any sewage system. No swimming pool shall be
emptied or drained into any sewage system. The pool must have a backwash type filter
with a suitable dry well constructed which must be approved by the agent of the Board
of Health. Such dry well shall be at least three (3) feet in diameter and three (3)
feet deep and provided with an 18-inch diameter metal rim and cover. The dry well must
be located at least 25 feet from the pool and 15 feet from the lot line, and so
designated on the sketch.
Swimming oo gu a ions Page 2
Section 6.
it is the responsibility of every owner, occupant or agent of premises where any
swimming pool of any size exists to keep the same in a sanitary condition through
filtration or chlorination, or both. if health or sanitation is jeopardized, the
Board of Health may order the pool to be emptied and sanitized. If the owner or
occupant of the premises fails to comply with such order, the Board may cause the
nuisance to be removed and all expenses incurred thereby shall be paid by the person
who caused or permitted same.
Section 7.
Outdoor swimming pools hereinafter constructed shall be protected by a fence, wall,
building, enclosure, or a solid wall of durable material of which the pool itself mav
be constructed or any combination thereof. Artificial barriers shall be constructed
so as to afford no external handholds or footholds, five (5) feet in height and
and equipped with a self-closing and positive self-latching closure mechanism at a
height of five (5) feet and provided with hardware for permanent locking. when the
swimming pool is not open for use, access shall be prevented.
Revised 4/1/,94
OY
Check Cash
MILLIS BOARD OF @TH
Niagara Hall, Exchange St.
Millis, MA 02054 1
APPLICATION FOR SWIMMING POOL PERMIT
Name of Homeowner Address
Telephone Number
Name of Installer Address
Telephone Number
Type Filter: Cartridge Diatomaceous Earth Sand Other
Backwash Required: Yes NO
Pool Construction: Above Ground Below Ground
Size of Pool: Length Width maximum Depth
Time required to recirculate entire contents of pool:
Pool Capacity in Gallons
For Private or Public Use
Sketch of Layout (Please attach to application) IN DUPLICATE
(Please be sure to answer all items)
Permit Granted 19- subject to the following further requirements
and conditions:
Comments:
Signed
Board of Health
PLEASE SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR PERMIT IN DUPLICATE