8 basic swimming pool rules that every community should have in place

Memorial Day has come and gone, which means one thing: It’s pool and barbecue season.

That’s great news for your winter-weary residents. They’ll arrive with buckets of sunscreen and piles of kebabs, ready for swimming and grilling. They may even share their food with you, if you’re lucky!

But if the idea of unsupervised residents and guests in the pool keeps you up at night, then this is probably your least favorite time of year.

There are, of course, some common sense measures you can take to ensure the safety of your residents and their guests. That includes posting the following 8 swimming pool rules rules at the patio entrance and around the pool. Don’t forget to mention these basic community pool safety tips.

8 Basic Swimming Pool Rules for Every Community to Follow

1. No running. It’s way too easy for kids and adults alike to slip on wet surfaces and injure themselves.
2. No diving. Even with an experienced lifeguard on staff, diving can be dangerous. It can endanger other swimmers, and it could cause serious harm to the diver if the pool is too shallow.
3. Supervise kids. Young children should be monitored by an adult at all times. Check with your state or local jurisdiction to determine an appropriate age limit. Some states have found that 18 years old may be too restrictive, as some 16- and 17-year-olds are certified lifeguards themselves.
4. Toddlers must wear swim diapers. This probably doesn’t need an explanation, but it’s a good rule to have if there are a lot of families in your community.
5. No more than # swimmers at a time. Most pools have a capacity for safety reasons. Without a reminder, this rule may fall by the wayside on popular pool days.
6. Limit of # guests per resident. On that note, if you worry about too many people crowding the patio when the weather gets hot, you can set a (reasonable) visitor limit. 2 or 3 per resident is usually fine.
7. No animals in the pool. Dogs in swimming pools can be unsanitary, and their hair will clog the filter. You may want to limit animals on the patio itself, as well, in case there are residents with allergies. Keep in mind, however, that you may have to make exceptions for service pets.
8. No glass bottles. You may be okay with residents sharing drinks poolside, but you may not want broken glass where people are walking around in bare feet.

This list of swimming pool rules is by no means exhaustive. You may have different rules depending on where your community is located and what kinds of residents live there. Always check with local ordinances before creating and posting rules to avoid legal issues, as well.

In addition to posting swimming pool rules, it’s a good idea to erect a fence around your pool that can only be accessed by key. You may also be able to set time limits for the pool so that nobody can access it after dusk or before dawn.

Ultimately, pools are a great way for residents to cool off in the summer heat. But they also present a liability, especially when you have to take kids, guests, and pets into consideration.

If you find that people are ignoring or breaking your swimming pool rules, don’t hesitate to send a reminder via email, or to tuck a notice under their doors. After all, you installed the pool so that they could enjoy it—but you want to be sure that they do so safely!

How do you keep your pool safe and fun during the summer? Get the conversation started below.

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, we bet you’ll like this one, too: The property manager’s pool safety checklist: 16 must-read tips