Provincial regulation on residential pool safety
As of July 1, 2021, the Quebec government has amended the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Regulation, which came into force in 2010. Among other things, these amendments make the regulation applicable to all pools in Quebec, regardless of the year in which they were installed.
!! As a result, owners of pools installed before November 1, 2010, who were benefiting from an acquired right when the regulations came into force in 2010, now have until September 30, 2025 to bring their installations into compliance. !!!
These changes have been made in response to a recommendation made by several coroners with the aim of reducing the risk of children drowning.
Application of the regulation
The bylaw applies to all residential outdoor pools capable of containing 60 cm (24 in.) of water or more, whether in-ground, semi-in-ground, above-ground or demountable (inflatable or other), as well as spas capable of containing more than 2,000 liters.
Checking your pool's conformity
To ensure the safety of installations on its territory, the Ville de Saint-Lambert, through article 5.7 of its Zoning By-law 2024-215, applies, for certain dispositions, stricter rules than the Quebec government's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Regulation (RLRQ, S-3.1.02, r.1).
To check whether your installation complies with these regulations, it's best to refer directly to the city's Zoning By-law 2024-215.
You can consult
- Saint-Lambert Zoning By-law 2024-215 (see Chapter 5, article 5.7)
- Quebec government website on pool safety
Note that if you need to install an enclosure, you'll need a certificate of authorization issued by the Urban Planning, Permits and Inspection Department.
To know more
If you have any questions about the conformity of your pool, or would like to know what steps to take to remedy the situation, please contact the Urban Planning, Permits and Inspection Department at 450-672-4444 or urbanisme@saint-lambert.ca.