Who is required to have a pool or spa license?
Any person who operates or intends to operate a public pool or spa in the Franklin County General Health District shall apply to Franklin County Public Health prior to opening and annually once they have been licensed. See OAC 3701-31-02.
When is my pool/spa license due?
Public swimming pools and spas are licensed from June 1st until May 31st of each year. Applications are sent out in late March and shall be postmarked or received by Franklin County Public Health by May 1st. Any application not postmarked or received by May 1st is subject to a late fee of 25% of the applicable fee.
Included below are some of the basic requirements of for public pools and spas. This is only a part of the many requirements and not a complete list. View the complete Public Swimming Pool, Spa and Special Use Pool Rules (OAC 3701-31).
| Water Quality | Pool | Spa | Spray Grounds |
| Free Chlorine | 1.0 ppm minimum |
2.0 ppm minimum |
2.0 ppm minimum |
| Bromine | 2.0 ppm minimum |
4.0 ppm minimum |
4.0 ppm minimum |
| pH | 7.2 - 7.8 | 7.2 - 7.8 | 7.2 - 7.8 |
| Alkalinity | 60 ppm or more |
60 ppm or more |
60 ppm or more |
| Cyanuric Acid | 70 ppm or less |
70 ppm or less |
70 ppm or less |
| Water Temp | Less than 90° F |
No more than 104° F |
Less than 90° F |
When am I required to close my pool/spa?
Ohio Administrative Code 3701-31-04 (B)(1) provides a list of critical operation items determining closure of a pool/spa. See page 2 of the linked PDF for the list.
What are recreational water illnesses (RWIs)?
Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans.
RWIs can be a wide variety infections, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea. Diarrheal illnesses can be caused by germs such as Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium), Giardia, Shigella, norovirus and E. coli O157:H7. In the past two decades, there has been an increase in the number of RWI outbreaks associated with swimming.What do I do if I find poop in the pool?
If you find poop in the pool, there are important steps that need to be taken to help prevent recreational water illnesses. Reacting quickly and appropriately is key to minimizing contamination and risk to swimmers. The Centers for Disease Control has excellent information on how to respond to a fecal accident in a pool. The Ohio Department of Health and Franklin County Public Health recommend this document be used to address fecal accidents in pools and spas.
ODH Pool/Spa Website
ODH Public Pool, Spa and Special Use Pool Rules
ODH Approved Pool Paints and Colors
ODH Approved Automatic Controllers
ODH Equipment Replacement Form
ODH Pool Data Sheet
ODH Pool/Spa Application for Plan Review
Pool/Spa Daily or Weekly Operation Report
Application to Operate a Public Pool or Spa
CDC Healthy Swimming
Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs)
Diarrhea and Spreading Illness at the Pool
Hot Tub User Information
Swim Diapers & Swim Pants
Healthy Swimming Tips
