Whether they are above ground, in-ground or even removable, residential pools pose a significant risk of drowning for young children, especially when they are not under adult supervision and if the facilities are not adequately secured. To date, there are 3375 residential pools that have been installed before 2010 in the borough. It is imperative that each owner ensures the compliance of his or her installation, not only to respect the new law, but to ultimately prevent the loss of human life. I appeal to the sense of duty and responsibility of our citizens to take the necessary actions.

This local inspection initiative follows the changes made by the Government of Quebec in the summer of 2021 to its Regulation regarding the safety of residential swimming pools, which now includes new rules to make the facilities surrounding swimming pools even safer. Like other Quebec municipalities, the Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro is responsible for ensuring that provincial and municipal regulations in this area are applied and respected. The main changes are:

• End of acquired rights for facilities built before November 1, 2010. Owners of these facilities will now have to comply with the provincial regulation in effect and proceed with the necessary work to make their facility compliant before September 30, 2025.

Following the new provincial regulations (notably the end of acquired rights for pools installed before 2010), between May and August 2023, all pool owners on the territory of Pierrefonds-Roxboro will receive a visit from an inspector from the Urban Planning, Permits and Inspections Division to ensure that their installations are compliant and safe. Door hangers will be distributed at the doors of the inspected residences to remind them of the obligation to comply with the new rules before September 30, 2025, under the provincial law. The Borough will then inform the owners concerned of any non-compliance.

You can now verify the compliance of your installation by consulting the self-assessment form provided by the Quebec government. 

Self-assessment form to check the compliance of your residential pool

The Borough would like to remind you that all property owners are required to obtain a permit from the Pierrefonds-Roxboro Permit Office before building, installing or replacing any pool or installing a structure that allows or prevents access to any pool. By applying for a permit, you ensure that your installation will comply with the new regulations in effect and, above all, that it will respect safety standards.

To help you understand the rules governing residential pool safety, consult the Frequently Asked Questions document prepared by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. It provides concrete and graphic examples of different types of installations. If you have any questions about a future installation or modifications to your current installation, please contact our Planning Department: 

• By email: [email protected]
• In person: at the Permit Counter located at the Pierrefonds-Roxboro Borough Hall (13665, boulevard de Pierrefonds)