The safety of public swimming pools in Hamilton County is a priority for Environmental Health Specialists in Hamilton County Public Health’s Environmental Health 
Division. A licensing, inspection and education program helps ensure the safety of Hamilton County swimmers whether they’re enjoying a public pool or playing in their own backyard. View the latest Inspection Reports.
Licensing and Inspections
Each year, Hamilton County Public Health issues licenses for more than 380 public swimming pools, including municipal pools, swim clubs, and pools at hotels, spas, and apartment or condo complexes.
Licensing renewals now available online!
Required fees:
- Individual Public Swimming Pool, Spas, and Special Use Pools $388.00
- State Fee $80.00
- Additional Public Swimming Pool, Spas, and Special Use Pools $258.00
- State Fee $55.00
To ensure the safety of swimmers and prevent the spread of waterborne illnesses, an extensive pre-operational inspection is conducted each year prior to the start of pool season and additional inspections are conducted throughout the remainder of the year. Hamilton County Public Health pool inspections:
- Ensure the safety of swimmers (especially children) from drowning, falls and injuries.
- Control and prevent transmission of waterborne diseases to swimmers through assurance of sanitizer concentrations (chlorine or bromine) and balanced pool chemistry (pH and alkalinity levels).
- Educate swimmers and pool staff about safety and hygiene practices in pool settings.
During inspections, Environmental Health Specialists check:
- chemistry and water clarity
- safety equipment
- depth markers
- turn-over rates
- records
- emergency phone and security fence
- secure main drain gates
- diving boards and life guards
- restrictive access/self closing, self latching gate
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Law
This new law is aimed at reducing the 260 pool and spa drownings each year involving children younger than 5 and suction entrapment deaths and injuries, by making pools and spas safer, securing the environment around them, and educating consumers and industry on pool safety.
The law specifies that by December 19, 2008, swimming pool and spa drain covers available for purchase in the U.S. MUST meet specific requirements. Additionally, public swimming pools, wading pools, spas and hot tubs MUST meet requirements for installation of compliant drain covers. In certain instances, public pools and spas MUST have additional devices or systems designed to prevent suction entrapment.