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Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    ​Permitting a Public Bathing Place

    Obtaining a Permit

    The PA Department of Health requires an operating permit for all public swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and beaches. Chapter 18, the Public Bathing Code, states, "a permit shall be obtained from the Department prior to construction or operation of a public bathing place". The Chapter 18 construction requirement was amended by the passage of the Uniform Construction Code (UCC). The UCC adopts by reference in 34 Pennsylvania Code Section 403.26, as amended, includes the International Building Code of 2021 for accessibility, and the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code of 2018 for all other unit construction standards. Therefore, the Department of Health publication, the Public Bathing Place Manual, Parts I and III are no longer used in approving construction permits for public swimming pools and spas. In many municipalities in Pennsylvania, the local code enforcement officer enforces the UCC. In the event that the local municipality has opted not to enforce the UCC, the Department of Labor and Industry enforces the UCC for all new construction in those jurisdictions.

    To obtain an operational permit from the Department of Health submit the Application to Operate a Public Bathing Place by following the directions included in the Application Packet.

    If you plan to modify/renovate your existing facility, you will need to contact an Environmental Health Specialist at your District Office of the PA Department of Health to determine what steps are required before any changes may begin.