Garden and Outdoors

Since insects will reproduce in the water of pools whose filtration systems is turned off, from May 15 to September 15 of any given year, it is prohibited to allow water in a pool or other body of water to deteriorate to the point where its clarity is affected.

Mesures relating to pools

Pools are authorized in secondary front yards as well as side and rear yards only.

The total surface area of accessory buildings and structures must not exceed 20% of the lot’s surface area. Accessory buildings and structures included in this percentage are: detached garages, sheds, pools, patios, porches, balconies, hot tubs, sidewalk around the pool, gazebos, pergolas, arbours and private greenhouses (does not include walkways, driveways and the walkway at the building’s entrance).

General 

Pools are authorized, as accessory structures, in all "Housing (H)" usage classes.

Maximum number

Only one pool can be built on a lot.

Installation

• A pool’s side and rear setbacks are established at a minimum of 2 metres measured from the wall of the pool to the property line. In the event that there are underground public utility pipes (sewer, waterworks, electricity), the setback must be established from this servitude. A pool installed in the secondary front yard must be located at least 2 metres from the property lines, while respecting this by-law’s other applicable standards.


• The side and rear setbacks can be reduced to 1.5 metres for attached or semi-detached housing units. However, no structure such as decks and patios can encroach on this setback.


• When there is an overhead servitude, the pool can be installed from the property line without the pool or its structures encroaching in the servitude.


• All pool accessories (diving board, slide, sidewalk, etc.) must be at least 1.5 metres from the property line.


• The distance between a pool and the main building must be at least equal to the depth of the pool but must be no less than 1.5 metres.


• However, a pool can be closer to a main building if an engineer has certified that its location will not weaken the sturdiness of the adjacent building and the walls of the pool have been calculated taking into account the additional load created by the adjacent building.


• No pool may occupy more than one third (1/3) of the surface area of the yard where it is built.

Planning

An in-ground pool must be entirely surrounded by a sidewalk covered by or built from a skid-proof material. It must be at least 1 metre wide and located at least 1 metre from any property line without encroaching on an underground servitude.

Fence

• An in-ground or above-ground pool less than 1.2 metres high must be protected by a fence measuring at least 1 metre high from the ground and must comply with the standards for fences and walls contained in this by-law.
• The clearance between the ground and the bottom of the fence must not exceed 0.1 metre.


• The fence must be rigid and built from good quality materials. It must be built from one of the following materials: treated wood (new), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), galvanized steel with a baked enamel coating, and tempered or laminated safety glass meeting CAN/CGSB-12.1-M standards. All types of canvas are prohibited in the construction of a fence. The fence must consist of vertical parts with no more than 0.1 metre spacing between them. In the case of a chain link fences, gaps in the framework must not exceed 0.05 metre.


• The fence must be at least 1.2 metres from the pool’s outer wall. A 1.2 metre raised patio with an edge of 0.8 to 0.9 metre and entirely surrounding an above-ground pool can replace the fence required in the previous paragraph, provided access to the pool is properly protected.
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• The fence must be built simultaneously with the construction or installation of the pool. The fence must be installed within property lines provided it completely encloses the perimeter of the space reserved for the pool. A wall forming part of the perimeter must not have a opening allowing direct access to the pool.


• The fence must not have elements, supports and openings placed between 0.1 metre and 0.9 metre above the level of the adjacent ground. The fence must be a permanent installation and must not have a detachable or removable part that could dismantle it.


• The fence must be fitted with a device automatically closing and locking the gate. This device must be positioned out of the range of children and installed on the inside of the fence.

Access equipment

Equipment providing access to above-ground pools, such as ladders steps, ramps or terraces, must be removable or designed so as to prevent access in periods when the pool is not in use.

Water drainage system

Pool water must be drained exclusively into the storm sewer, if there is one.

Pool filters

• A pool filter can only be installed in the rear or side yard when that is the pool’s location. A pool filter can be located in the secondary front yard only if that is where the pool is located.


• The side and rear setbacks for a pool located in the rear or side yard must be at least 2 metres. The side, rear and front setbacks for a pool located in the secondary front yard must be at least 2 metres.


• The unit must be located at least 1 metre from the pool or the fence that surrounds it.


• The unit must be concealed by a protective screen whose composition must comply with measures set forth in sub-section 5 of this chapter.


• The protective screen installed must prevent any noise, as per measures contained in the quality of life by-law currently in effect.

Lifesaving materials and equipment

A pool must have the following lifesaving equipment easily accessible at all times:

• An insulated or non-conductive rod at least 0.3 metre longer than half the width or diameter of the pool.


• A buoy attached to a cable at least equal in length to the width or diameter of the pool.

Lighting system

A pool used after sunset must have a lighting system making it possible to see the bottom of the pool in its entirety.

USES, WORKS AND CONSTRUCTIONS AUTHORIZED IN A ZONE SUBJECT TO FLOODING (RECURRENCE: 0-20 YEARS)

The construction or installation of an above-ground and/or in-ground pool for residential use is authorized in keeping with the following conditions:

• it can occupy no more than 10% of the surface area of the lot.
• there can be no excavation and/or backfilling except for the construction of an in-ground pool requiring materials to be removed from the floodplain.
• An in-ground pool’s structure must comply with protection standards and construction plans must be approved by an engineer. A certificate of compliance prepared by an engineer must be provided to the Town once work has been completed.