There are many types of swimming pool permit applications and choosing the right one depends on what you want to do. You will need a permit to Construct a Public Swimming Pool, to Modify an Existing Public Swimming Pool, or to Operate a Public Swimming Pool.
If you are constructing a public swimming pool you will need to submit a completed Swimming Pool Construction Permit Application with at least two sets of plans (and a digital copy, if available) that include a pool plumbing schematic with equipment details, specification sheets for the pool equipment, a bathhouse plan, a subdivision/community plat, and a layout of the amenity area, along with a completed Hydraulic Analysis Worksheet.
For a modification or renovation of an existing public swimming pool, you will need to submit a completed Modification Permit Application detailing all changes associated with the project and supporting documentation (i.e., cut sheets of the equipment, construction materials, etc.).
An Operational Permit Application must be completed for newly constructed public swimming pools as well as those that have changed ownership to initiate the process of obtaining an operational permit. A valid operational permit is required before a public swimming pool can be opened for use. Public swimming pools that operate seasonally (i.e., opening and closing sometime between April 1 and October 31) must receive a passing inspection from our department before opening each year.
Note: Applicants for new swimming pool operational permits must fully complete a Verification of Residency for Public Benefits Application before a permit can be issued. For newly constructed pools, the swimming pool operational permit application and residency verification affidavit must be submitted, and the inspection fee must be paid before a final construction inspection can be scheduled.
Applications and Forms
Cobb Applications and Forms
- Construct a Public Swimming Pool
- Modify an Existing Pool
- Operate a Public Swimming Pool
- Public Swimming Pool Hydraulic Analysis Worksheet
Forward the original copy of the application, three (3) sets of plans (new and renovated pools only), a local contact person’s name and phone number, and the appropriate fee to:
Cobb Public Health
Center for Environmental Health
1738 County Services Pkwy
Marietta, Georgia 30008
770-435-7815
Douglas Applications and Forms
- Construct a Public Swimming Pool
- Modify an Existing Pool
- Operate a Public Swimming Pool
- Public Swimming Pool Hydraulic Analysis Worksheet
Forward the original copy of the application, three (3) sets of plans (new and renovated pools only), a local contact person’s name and phone number, and the appropriate fee to:
Douglas Public Health
Center for Environmental Health
4655 Timber Ridge Dr.
Douglasville, Georgia 30135
770-920-7311
Information
Responding to Fecal, Blood, and Vomit Incidents
Emergency Phone Requirements
General Requirements
All swimming pools under the jurisdiction of Cobb & Douglas Public Health are required to have an operable, hard-wired or continuously powered, weatherproof telephone, with direct 911 access or capability. The emergency phone must be installed in a conspicuous location, and it must always be available to bathers and pool staff. A sign stating “EMERGENCY 911” must be posted by the emergency phone, and it is recommended that the swimming pool’s physical address be posted nearby. Directions to the phone’s location should be conspicuously posted if the telephone is not readily visible within the pool area. It is also recommended that VoIP phones have a battery backup that can power the phone for up to 24 hours in the event of a power outage.
It is also extremely important that pool emergency phones have their location verified with a 911 operator. An unverified emergency phone may have an incorrect address associated with its phone number, which could result in unnecessary delays from emergency medical technicians (EMTs). A verified emergency phone number will let the 911 operator know that an emergency situation is occurring at your swimming pool and assure that EMTs can arrive as quickly as possible.
Cell Phones
Because cell phones are not usually at a fixed location, are not provided with a continuous power supply, and do not provide accurate caller location information to 911 operators, they do not serve as a reliable device for seeking assistance in the event of an emergency. For this reason, it has been the policy of Cobb & Douglas Public Health to prohibit the use of cell phones as emergency phones for a swimming pool.
Guidance For Opening Seasonal Pools
The following guide may be used to assist with preparing your pool for an opening inspection:
Guidance for Trained Pool Operators
The Georgia Department of Public Health provides the following guidance for a swimming pool’s trained operator:
Calculating Swimming Pool Bathing Loads
The following guide may be used to assist you in calculating your swimming pool’s bathing load:
Reducing the Risk of Disease Transmission
While a fecal, vomitus, or blood contamination incident can present a health hazard to bathers in the immediate vicinity of the incident, the potential for disease transmission may be reduced by implementing the following procedures at your pool:
- Discourage bathers from entering the pool if they have suffered from gastrointestinal illness-related diarrhea in the past two weeks.
- Encourage bathers to use the toilet and wash their hands with soap and water before using the pool. Take children on frequent bathroom breaks.
- Encourage bathers to always shower before entering the pool or before reentering the pool after using the toilet.
- Require that children who are not yet potty-trained and incontinent bathers wear swimsuit diapers and tight-fitting rubber or plastic pants. Keep in mind that even though rubber pants and swimsuit diapers can contain most fecal accidents, they may not be completely effective (i.e., improperly sized, become stretched or torn, etc.). Immediately remove the child or incontinent bather from the pool and pool area if defecation occurs.
- Do not permit diaper changing in the pool area and prohibit the practice of dipping a child’s bottom in the pool as part of the diaper-changing process. If possible, install diaper-changing tables in bather-accessible bathrooms.
- Encourage bathers to avoid swallowing pool water.
- Ensure all pool personnel are properly trained in the prevention and management of pool water fecal, vomitus, or blood incidents.
- Evacuate and close the pool immediately in the event of vomitus or fecal contamination. Also, refer to the CDC’s Fecal Incident Response Recommendations for Aquatic Staff for guidance.
- Ensure that your pool water is balanced and tested frequently and that a minimum free chlorine residual of 1.0 ppm (2.0 ppm for pools using stabilized chlorine, and 3.0 ppm for spas) is maintained. Maintain the pH between 7.2 -7.8. Do not operate the pool if the filtration or disinfection systems are not in proper working order.
- Ensure that the pool, pool piping, deck, and deck piping are properly designed to prevent gray water, wastewater, or sewage from backing up or draining into the pool. Ensure proper back-flow prevention devices are installed on potable water lines and that they are in good, working condition.
- Discourage bathers from sharing items, like towels or razors, with other people.
- Encourage bathers with skin infections to stay out of the pool. If that is not possible, encourage the bather to cover any bumps, cuts, or infected areas with watertight bandages.
- Do not allow pets in the pool area and try to prevent wild animals from using the pool as a water source.
- When incidents of contamination occur, log all information documenting what actions were taken to correct the situation in the pool’s daily records.
Swimming Pool Program Fee Schedule
NOTE: A new Environmental Health fee schedule will go into effect on January 1, 2027. Click here for more information.
Plan Reviews
Plan Review for a New Swimming Pool
- Surface Area <500 sq. ft.: $275
- Surface Area 500 – 2000 sq. ft.: $365
- Surface Area >2000 sq. ft.: $475
- Governmental: $0
Plan Review for Existing Swimming Pool
- Change in Ownership Review: $55
- Any Modification that does not alter pool hydraulics: $85
- Any Modification that alters pool hydraulics: $205
Other Plan Review Fees
- Plan Resubmittal: $110
Annual Inspections
- Seasonal Operation (April – October): $315
- Year-Round Operation: $450
- Governmental: $0