Design
Fiberglass pools offer a smooth, glossy finish that’s a treat for your feet when wading.

Rules and Regulations
If you live in Massachusetts and are planning on owning a pool, brush up on your state and local laws around pool ownership to be sure your pool is compliant with all regulations.

Because state and local laws can change over time, it’s important to conduct your research before breaking ground on your beautiful new pool. Although there are overarching pool laws for the entire state of Massachusetts, your city, town or municipality may have additional, potentially stricter regulations governing pool ownership. Check with your local building office to gain a better understanding of what you may be responsible for. Additionally, working with a professional builder can help you more easily navigate the most recent codes, as well as help you secure the proper permits to build your new pool.

That said, here are some of the more common questions we hear around legal responsibilities and requirements to owning a pool in Massachusetts.

How far does a pool need to be from the house in Massachusetts?

The distance between a swimming pool and a home varies throughout the state. Different cities and towns have their own requirements as to what’s appropriate. For instance, Middleton, MA requires that a “pool and any structural deck shall be located a minimum of 12 feet from the home, 20 feet from the side and rear of the property lines and 25 feet from the front property line.”

Other Massachusetts towns have less stringent requirements. For example, Agawam, MA only requires that a pool must be a minimum of 10 feet from the side yard property line and 10 feet from the rear yard property line. Boston has even more relaxed rules around how far a pool must be situated from a property, requiring that a pool must be at least 4 feet from every lot line. However, despite Boston requiring less distance between a pool and a property, its pool fence and barrier laws are stricter, requiring fencing to be at least 6 feet high as opposed to the statewide minimum of 4 feet high.

Be sure to check with your local building office to confirm how far your pool needs to be from your home and any other property lines. Because Massachusetts is home to cities and towns of varying sizes and population densities, your local distance requirements may be relative to the average parcel of land and property sizes. Urban areas may require a shorter distance, while more rural and suburban areas may insist upon a greater distance between your pool and property lines. A licensed professional pool builder can help you better understand any requirements for your area.

Do I have to have a fence around my pool in Massachusetts?

Yes, if you plan on owning a pool in MA, the state requires that all residential pools must be surrounded by a fence or barrier of at least 4 feet high. Individual cities and towns throughout the state may have stricter requirements as to how high a pool fence must be in order for your pool to comply with local building codes.

How tall does a fence around a pool have to be in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, state law and building codes require a pool fence or barrier at least 4 feet high. In addition, fencing must have self-closing, self-latching gates. Any latches must be placed at a height of at least 4 feet to prevent kids from opening the gate and accessing the pool without supervision.

While Massachusetts requires that all residential pools must be surrounded by a fence or barrier at least 4 feet high on all sides, cities and towns throughout the state may have more stringent requirements. For instance, Boston, MA requires that all pool fencing must be at least 6 feet high. Be sure to check with your local building office around any fencing and pool requirements to ensure your pool is up-to-code. Working with a licensed professional pool builder can help you more easily navigate these codes and better understand state and local regulations.

Seasonality
Seasonal Tips for Fiberglass Pool Owners in Massachusetts

Seasonal Swim Outlook & Local Insight

Here's what to expect from the swimming season in Massachusetts:

• The typical pool season runs from late May to mid-September, with many homeowners opening their pools around Memorial Day and closing them by mid-September

• Pool owners note: “We don’t expect to swim any earlier than maybe June, or any later than September (maybe October, depending on how long the warm weather lasts)”.

• To squeeze more value out of every season, heaters (especially efficient heat pumps or solar options) and automatic covers are increasingly essential—even if used only occasionally

Although Bay Staters typically have fewer months to lounge poolside, there are a few ways to enjoy as much pool time as possible throughout the year. When planning your pool, consider adding a spillover spa or choosing a model with one already built-in. If you don’t have the budget for it right now, opting for a vinyl liner pool can keep the door open to add one later alongside a vinyl liner replacement or other renovations.

In addition to thinking about features that can help you extend pool season as long as possible, there are some seasonal aspects of keeping your pool in tip-top shape if you live in Massachusetts.

• Spring: Springtime in Massachusetts comes with beautiful scenery – and heavy pollen between April and May. (September is also another high pollen month for Bay State residents.) In addition to triggering allergies, pollen can clog your pool filter. Pollen grains can accumulate on the surface of your pool. Be sure to skim these tiny yellow or green granules out of your pool, as they can lead to algae.

• Fall: Although most Massachusetts residents typically close their pools in September, a heated pool can help you enjoy your pool until late October or early November. Other add-ons like a spillover spa or patio fire pit can help you enjoy your pool and backyard after the kids have gone back to school and temperatures start to chill out. And because over 62% of Massachusetts has tree coverage, Bay State pool owners should brace themselves to regularly skim any autumn leaves that fall into the pool. While an autocover can help prevent leaf accumulation, it’s still important to stay on top of fishing leaves out, as they can contribute to the development of algae growth.

• Winter: Many Massachusetts residents close their pools in September or October, although those with heated pools sometimes hold off until November. Regardless of when you chose to close your pool down before winter, there are a few basic tips to keep in mind. Be sure to remove all air from water lines and pool equipment. Although a lot of pool owners close their pool themselves, you can also enlist the aid of professionals to help you close and winterize your pool. Additionally, securing your pool with a winter cover can go a long way towards protecting it when winter snowstorms hit.