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1. What types of projects are reviewed by the Swimming Pool Program?

The Swimming Pool Program reviews and approves projects for public and semi-public pools, wading pools or special use pools, spas and artificial bathing lakes. Public and semi-public pools, spas and bathing lakes are typically owned and operated by municipalities or businesses such as hotels, apartment complexes, homeowner’s associations, churches, schools and other government, non-profit or commercial enterprises.

The Swimming Pool Program does not regulate or approve plans for the construction of new or modification of existing private residential pools, spas and bathing lakes. Private residential pools, spas and bathing lakes located in incorporated areas of Maricopa County are reviewed and approved by the Planning and Zoning Agency of the governing local municipality. Private residential pools, spas and bathing lakes located in unincorporated areas of Maricopa County are reviewed and approved by the Maricopa County Department of Planning and Development. Please contact the local municipality's Planning and Zoning Agency or the Maricopa County Planning and Development Department for their applications and requirements.
Planning and Development Department page.

2. Who can prepare a project?

All plans and specifications submitted to the Department for approval must have been prepared by, or under the supervision of, a currently registered Arizona Professional Engineer or Architect, or a swimming pool contractor with an Arizona Registrar of Contractor’s A-9, A-19, KA-5 or KA-6 license who is licensed to practice in the state of Arizona. The licensed preparer shall certify that the plans comply with the regulations and the criteria are contained in the swimming pool design policies.

Please contact the Swimming Pool Program if you have any questions about preparing a project for submittal.
Swimming Pool Program

3. How do I submit a project for approval?

Projects requiring approval are submitted by sending an application form, a check for the review fee and the relevant documentation for the project to the Swimming Pool Program.

Application and instruction forms for submission of projects can be found on the
Forms/Applications page.

4. Whom should I contact if I have a question about submitting a project?

Please contact the Swimming Pool Program if you have any questions about submitting a project. Swimming Pool Program

5. How can I obtain application and instruction forms?

Application and instruction forms can be obtained from the Forms/Applications page.

6. What type of documentation needs to be included in my project submittal package?

The type of documentation submitted to the Swimming Pool Program for review and approval of a project which involves the construction of or modification to a public and semi-public pool, wading pool or special use pool, spa or artificial bathing lake typically includes Engineering Calculations and Design Data, Design Drawings and Technical Specifications. The Design Drawings must include a pool enclosure detail.

Please contact the Swimming Pool Program if you have any questions concerning what documentation is required to be submitted for your project.
Swimming Pool Program

7. Are electronic (digital format) documentation submittals accepted?

At the present time electronic documentation submittals are not accepted by the Swimming Pool Program. This is due to the requirements of public records archiving, as established by the State of Arizona.

8. What types of documentation must be sealed by a Professional Engineer or Architect?

If a project is submitted by a Professional Engineer or Architect then the following documentation, as a minimum, must be signed and stamped by the Professional Engineer or Architect:
- Calculations and Design Data – As required by the Swimming Pool Program or by the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration’s rules and regulations.
- Design Drawings – Each Individual Design Drawing Sheet.
- Technical Specifications – Cover, Table of Contents or First Page.
- Reports and Other Documentation – As required by the Swimming Pool Program or by the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration’s rules and regulations.
The engineering or architectural firm must also be registered with the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration.

It is recommended that engineers and architects submitting documentation to the Swimming Pool Program contact the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration if they have any questions about the rules and regulations related to sealing documentation.
Arizona State Board of Technical Registration

9. What format and how many copies of the documentation should be submitted?

ANSI ‘D’ size (24 inches high by 36 inches wide standard size) drawings must be submitted for the review and approval. Normally only one copy of the documentation is required.

10. Does the MCESD sign the cover page of the design drawings?

The cover page of the design drawings is signed by the Swimming Pool Program staff for projects which involve the construction of or modification to a public and semi-public pool, wading pool or special use pool, spa or artificial bathing lake and require an Approval To Construct.

An approval area for the MCESD should be provided on the cover page with space reserved for the following information:
- Approval By: (Signature)
- Approval Date:
- Project Number:

11. How much will it cost to get my project approved?

The fee amount charged for the review depends on the type of project. Chapter 1, Regulation 5 of the Maricopa County Environmental Health Code (MCEHC) itemizes the fees. The submittal package instructions for each of the application forms on the Forms/Applications page also lists the fees charged for the different types of project components and contains directions on how to compute the fee for a project. Forms/Applications page

12. What happens after I have submitted my project?

When your project is submitted to the Swimming Pool Program it will be logged into our database and assigned a project number. When the review of the project’s plans is complete a Swimming Pool Program staff member will contact you by facsimile or mail.

13. How long will it take to get my project reviewed and approved?

The length of time it takes to obtain an approval depends on the following factors:
- The degree of difficulty of the project. Complex projects take longer to review.
- The quality of the design and the level of detail contained within the submitted documentation for a particular project. If the design is complete and all regulatory, operational and maintenance concerns have been addressed, the review and approval process will be relatively quick.
- The current workload of the Swimming Pool Program staff. If a number of projects are already queued for review your project will not be reviewed immediately.

14. Is there any way to expedite the review of my project?

The review and approval of a project may be expedited by paying an expedited review fee. An expedited review doubles the fee amount for the project.

The review will be expedited, with the project being reviewed ahead of non-expedited projects. However, no guarantees can be made regarding the length of time the review cycle will take to complete because the review cycle time is dependent on the quality of the engineering design, the level of detail contained within the submitted project documentation, and the Swimming Pools Program's current workload.