Dallas City Swimming Pool Permit
By Tim Long
After your pool has been designed, but before any construction begins, permits from the local authorities must be obtained. In most locations there will be some governing authority which oversees residential construction. The purpose of these authorities is to require that your plan will be up to the standards of the community. These requirements are in theory supposed to eliminate substandard construction practices and insure community safety and property values. However in practical terms its is most important to confident that your builder exceeds these minimum standards. The authority will require inspections at certain crucial stages of construction; typical after the steel reinforcement and electrical bonding and initial plumbing have been completed, but before the concrete has been applied; after the electrical and plumbing work was been performed and after the safety items have been installed, such as barrier fencing, but before the interior finish has been applied. Other inspections may be required depending upon the items being constructed.
You should know that these requirements are constantly changing. As an example, at this time, March 2009, we are seeing Federal requirements governing safety in pools, specifically the Virginia Graham Baker Act, being implemented. This law was designed, among other things, to reduce the possibility of suction entrapment on pool drain covers. Since the law is Federal it will take time until the local authorities codify such laws into community requirements. It is important that the designer and builder be well informed of all the requirements to insure that the most current thinking has been used in the construction of your pool.
Typical Plat
When applying for a building permit for you pool, a fee will be required along with copies of the building plans. These plans will be reviewed to determine that the plans conform to the authoritie’s requirements. Your designer or builder should be aware of any requirements in your area, but as required, be flexible enough to adapt the plans to the requirements. Many of these requirements can be seen on your “plat” or scale drawing which visually describes your property. The plat, which you should have obtained when you purchased your home, should show the required “set backs” or “utility easements”. These are areas on your property on which you can locate substantial structures. “Variances” or exceptions can sometimes be obtained in certain circumstances to build in these areas, but many times these easements protect access to utility services which run throughout the community.
Excavation of a Pool
After the plans have obtained approval one further step needs to be completed before construction begins. In many areas the utilities, such as sewer, electrical, telephone and others, are buried in your yard. If excavation begins on your property and these utilities are damaged, it is possible that the homeowner will be held responsible for the cost of the necessary. These utilities must be identified before excavation. In many areas the utility companies, in an attempt to reduce or eliminate these accidental damages have set up organizations for the purpose of identifying these underground services. In Texas, for instance, there is a non-profit organization known as “TESS”, Texas Excavation Safety System. The builder should simple call TESS at least two days prior to excavation. A TESS member company will mark the necessary underground lines to help prevent any utility damage.
Gas Line Re-routing
If it is discovered that utilities lie in or near the placement of the pool or other new amenities, the utilities may need to be moved. The cost of such possible movement has to be accounted for when planning your new pool. However such cost are usually nominal when compared to the cost of the overall project.
Read the previous article in the series, “It Begins With Design”.
Read the next article in the series, “Excavation – The Big Dig!”.
