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Austin Travis County Health and Human Services Department

Public Health Services

Pools and Spas

A Pool/Spa Application Form must be submitted along with payment for any of the following:

  • Pool/Spa Plan Review
  • permit to operate
  • C.O. Inspection/C.O. Reinspection (new pool/spa installations)
  • Late Fee (assessed when permit renewal payment is made after the permit expiration date)
  • After-Hours Inspection (outside of normal business hours)
  • Reinspection of a Routine Annual Inspection (existing pools/spa)
Pool and Spa Regulations and Guides

City of Austin Code, Chapter 10-7
Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 265
Texas Health and Safety Code 341.064 for Swimming Pools and Bathhouses
Texas Health & Safety Code, Chapter 757 for Pool Yard Enclosures
Pool / Spa Plan Review submission requirements

General Information For Pool Usage

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming

Pool / Spa Frequently Asked Questions

What type of pools/spas does the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department inspect and issue permits for?

  • Semi-public pools/spas such as those located at facilities including (but not limited to) apartments, condominiums, duplexes, subdivision community pools (HOA’s), hotels/motels, mobile home communities, fitness centers, schools, daycares, scuba training facilities, water amusement parks, hospitals & physical therapy facilities, day spas, private clubs, etc.
  • Public pools open to the general public; i.e., owned and operated by the City of Austin.
  • Competitive event pools used for accredited aquatic competitions.
  • The Health Department does not inspect private pools/spas at single-family residences or pools/spas under the jurisdiction of state or federal agencies.

How frequently does the Health Department inspect a pool or spa? Routine inspections are conducted annually at a minimum of once per year.

Is a re-inspection fee required if the Health Department is unable to approve a routine inspection and must conduct a re-inspection on a pool/spa? Yes. A re-inspection fee of $100 is required when the Health Department must perform a re-inspection to ensure that any imminent safety or health hazard with the pool/spa has been corrected. Some examples of items that may result in closure of a pool/spa by this Department and require a re-inspection fee include (but not limited to):

  • missing drain cover/grate
  • missing safety vacuum release device (SVRD) where applicable/required
  • suction outlets do not have ANSI A112.19.8M approved anti-vortex drain covers
  • disinfectant level too high
  • pH level too low
  • gate is not self-closing and self-latching
  • exposed electrical wiring in the pool/spa
  • bottom of the pool/spa not clearly visible due to cloudy or murky water conditions
  • excessive trash or debris in pool/spa
  • excessive algae growth
  • large opening in fence/enclosure which allows entry into the pool/spa yard
  • circulation equipment not functional and pool is open for use
  • other imminent health or safety hazards as determined by the health department inspector

Will I incur any late fees for paying the annual permit renewal fee after the permit has expired? Yes. A late fee of $100 (per property) is required if payment of the annually renewed permit(s) is made more than ten (10) days after the expiration date. The Health Department will not approve the renewal of the permit to operate until any assessed late fee(s) is paid.

Am I required to pay the total amount of past-due permit to operate fees for each previous year I did not submit payment? Yes. If the pools/spa has remained in operation and no change of property owner occurred, the total amount of past-due permit to operate fees must be paid for each previous year that a permit fee was not submitted.

Do I need to completely fill out the pool/spa permit renewal application that was mailed to me? It is important to completely fill out your permit renewal application, especially when any mailing address, responsible party, establishment name or phone number information has changed from the previous year. Failure to update this information may prevent subsequent renewal applications from being sent to the correct location – which may result in late fees and/or the pool or spa being closed by the Health Department until the fee(s) is paid and the permit to operate is approved.

Am I required to test the water quality of my public/semi-public pool or spa if I am located in the City of Austin? As per City Ordinance, the water quality for semi-public pools/spas in the city limits of Austin (this does not include public pools open to the general public orcompetitive event pools used strictly for accredited aquatic competitions) must be tested for appropriate disinfectant levels and pH (Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 265). If the pool/spa is open for use more than one day per week, water quality must be tested, recorded and records retained for at least 1 year (and be made available by this Department upon request) as follows:

  • (a) once a day, two days a week, if the operator is on-site less than 32 hours a week; or,
  • (b) once a day, four days a week, if the operator is on-site 32 hours or more a week.

If a semi-public pool/spa is only open one day a week, the operator must test the water quality and record the results at least once on the day it is open for use.

Where can I find the rules regarding pool/spa signage, depth marking, emergency telephone, lifesaving equipment, disinfectant and pH level, main drain, decking and other specific safety feature or structural requirements for a public/semi-public pool or spa? The swimming pool/spa standards are contained in Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 265.

I have recently become the new owner of an existing property/facility having a public/semi-public pool/spa. Do I need a new permit to operate? Yes. When a change in property ownership occurs, the new owner must pay the annual pool/spa permit to operate fee, request a pool/spa inspection by the Health Department and obtain a new permit to operate prior to operating the pool/spa.

How do I know when to renew my pool/spa permit to operate? A permit renewal application is mailed to the last known billing address of the owner or responsible party on file approximately one month prior to the pool/spa’s permit expiration date.

Am I responsible for renewing my pool/spa permit to operate if I do not receive a permit renewal application in the mail? Yes. The owner or responsible party must maintain a valid permit to operate at all times. Failure to receive a renewal application does not relieve the owner or responsible party of their legal responsibility to ensure their permit to operate is not expired.

What steps do I take when a fecal or diarrhea “incident” is observed in the pool/spa? A fecal or diarrhea incident could represent a high risk for the spread of recreation water illnesses and should be addressed immediately. Refer to http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/fecalacc.htm for recommendations on how to respond to a fecal/diarrhea incident.

Please contact the Environmental Health Program at (512) 972-5600, FAX 972-5630 or by e-mail at ECHU.service@ci.austin.tx.us. It’s our goal to provide the best possible service to our customers. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.


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