A Plan Review is required of all public and semi-public pools and spas prior to their construction, alteration or renovation. All plans are reviewed to ensure compliance with the King County Board of Health, Title 14 and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 246-260.

Questions and answers regarding Plan Review preparation:

1. Who is qualified to design and submit plans?
   Registered architects and registered professional engineers licensed in the State of Washington are qualified. The engineer or architect must also provide a construction report which verifies the project has been completed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
   
   
2. What if I construct a pool facility without plan approval?
   State or local health department plan review is a requirement for legal operation of a regulated water recreation facility. In situations where pool facilities have been constructed without the required plan approval, extensive retrofitting and/or complete removal of such facilities have been and may be necessary.
   
   
3. When are plans needed?
   A construction permit is required for swimming, spa, wading and spray pools. See "Water recreation forms and documentation" section below for form submission instructions.

   Facilities which are exempt from plan review include:

• Single family residence pools (for sole use of family & invited guests)
• Therapeutic water facilities operated exclusively for physical therapy (under the care of a licensed medical practitioner). Such facilities are reviewed by Department of Health, Health Facilities Licensing at 360-236-2944.

Two routine inspections are done each year. Tests of pool water for free chlorine residual, pH, alkalinity and when necessary cyanuric acid are done at each inspection. The routine inspections also include a safety evaluation of the walking surfaces, access doors and fences, recirculation equipment, safety and emergency equipment.

Water recreation forms and documentation

The forms and other documentation are available in PDF format:

	Plan Guide for Water Recreation Facilities -- Spray Pool This Plan Guide is a checklist of items you need to review when designing and building your spray pool including requirements for construction plans, your role as well as that of your designer and construction manager.
	Plan Guide for Water Recreation Facilities -- Pool This Plan Guide is a checklist of items you need to review when designing and building your swimming pool including requirements for construction plans, your role as well as that of your designer and construction manager.
	Plan Guide for Water Recreation Facilities -- Spas This Plan Guide is a checklist of items you need to review when designing and building your spa including requirements for construction plans, your role as well as that of your designer and construction manager.
	Plan Guide for Water Recreation Facilities -- Wading Pool This Plan Guide is a checklist of items you need to review when designing and building your wading pool including requirements for construction plans, your role as well as that of your designer and construction manager.
	Supplemental Plan Review Guide for Renovation or Alteration of Existing Water Recreation Facilities (WRF) Prior to renovation or alteration (except for routine maintenance), a construction permit must be obtained through plan review and approval.
	Application for Pool Plan Review Fill out this application and submit it with a completed Plan Guide for Water Recreation Facilities checklist to the address provided.
	Application to Operate a Water Recreation Facility (WRF) Fill out this application to obtain your permit to allow you to legally operate your water recreation facility in King County, Washington.
	Construction Report of Water Recreation Facilities Upon completion of WRF construction, modification or alteration and before use, owners shall submit to the health department a construction report signed by an engineer or architect certifying that the construction is substantially in compliance with approved plans and specifications and related to conditions under subsection (2)(c) of this section.
	Injury Report Form The owner or operator of a swimming pool or spa pool must report any death, near drowning or serious injury to Public Health's Environmental Health office within 48 hours of the incident by calling (206) 296-4632. An investigation is completed for each incident.

Download other Water Recreation documents from the Washington State Department of Health

Printable rule posters for water recreation facilities

Diving Board rules


Spa rules


Spray Pool rules


Limited Use Swimming Pool rules
For pools associated with living units such as apartments, hotels, condominiums and home owners associations.


Wading Pool rules

Washington State Environmental Health Directors Guidance

• Illness transmission in pools
  
  
• Guideline used when pools are contaminated with feces or vomitus
  
  
• High chlorine dosage worksheet
  Use only after contamination of pool by feces or vomitus

Water recreation publications

	Staying Happy and Healthy in Your Spa and Hot Tub Topics include water temperature, use of alcoholic beverages, health conditions and preventing infection, safety, water disinfection and maintenance, test kits and cleaning. To order professionally produced hard copies of "Staying Happy and Healthy in Your Spa and Hot Tub", download the order form
	Splash! newsletter Public Health - Seattle & King County's Newsletter for Pool and Spa Operators and Owners (Updated June 2007)

Related resources

Washington State Dept. of Health sites:

• Water Recreation Program
• Water Safety Fact Sheet
• Water Recreation Publications

Washington State codes:

• Chapter 246-260 WAC, Water recreation facilities
• Chapter 246-262 WAC, Recreational water contact facilities