GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 205
Short Title: Clarify Swimming Pool Laws/Priv. Pool Rentals. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Jarvis (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 3, 2025
*S205 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT CLARIFYING THE SCOPE OF SWIMMING POOL LAWS BY AMENDIN G THE 2
EXEMPTION FOR PRIVATE POOLS SERVING SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS; AND 3
MAKING OTHER TECHNIC AL CHANGES TO G.S. 130A-280. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. G.S. 130A-280, as amended by Section 4.51 of S.L. 2024-49, reads as 6
rewritten: 7
"§ 130A-280. Scope.Scope and definitions. 8
(a) This Article Part provides for the regulation of public swimming pools in the State as 9
they may affect the public health and safety. As used in this Article, the term "public swimming 10
pool" means any structure, chamber, or tank containing an artificial body of water used by the 11
public for swimming, diving, wading, recreation, or therapy, together with buildings, 12
appurtenances, and equipment used in connection with the body of water, regardless of whether 13
a fee is charged for its use. The term includes municipal, school, hotel, motel, apartment, 14
boarding house, athletic club, or other membership facility pools and spas, spas operating for 15
display at temporary events, and artificial swimming lagoons. As used in this Article, an 16
"artificial swimming lagoon" means any body of water used for recreational purposes with more 17
than 20,000 square feet of surface area, an artificial liner, and a method of disinfectant that results 18
in a disinfectant residual in the swimming zone that is protective of the public health. This Article 19
Part does not apply to any of the following: 20
(1) A private pool serving a single family dwelling and used only by the residents 21
of the dwelling and their guests.guests, regardless of whether their guests gain 22
use of the private pool through a sharing economy platform or pay a fee for 23
its use. In all cases in which a fee is exchanged for access to a private pool 24
serving a single family dwelling that is used only by the residents of the 25
dwelling and their guests, the private pool shall be maintained in good and 26
safe working order. 27
(2) A private pool serving a single family dwelling meeting the minimum 28
requirements of this subdivision which is offered to, and used by, individuals 29
on a temporary basis utilizing a sharing economy platform. For the purposes 30
of this subdivision, a sharing economy platform means an online platform 31
used to facilitate peer-to-peer transactions to acquire, provide, or share access 32
to goods and services. For the purposes of this subdivision, a pool must meet 33
all of the following minimum requirements: 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 205-First Edition
a. Pools must have proper fencing and barriers to prevent unsupervised 1
access, especially by children. The fence should be at least 4 feet high 2
with a self-latching gate. 3
b. Pools must have clear and conspicuous signage posted around the pool 4
area specifying pool rules, depth markers, and any potential hazards. 5
c. Pools must be equipped with basic lifesaving equipment, including life 6
rings and reaching poles. 7
d. Pool decks and surrounding areas must have non-slip surfaces. 8
e. Pools must have properly fitted covers for all submerged suction 9
outlets. 10
f. Pools must be well-maintained with proper chemical balance and 11
cleanliness to ensure safe and healthy swimming conditions. 12
(3) Therapeutic pools used in physical therapy programs operated by medical 13
facilities licensed by the Department or operated by a licensed physical 14
therapist, nor to therapeutic chambers drained, cleaned, and refilled after each 15
individual use. 16
(b) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this Part: 17
(1) Artificial swimming lagoon. – Any body of water used for recreational 18
purposes with more than 20,000 square feet of surface area, an artificial liner, 19
and a method of disinfectant that results in a disinfectant residual in the 20
swimming zone that is protective of the public health. 21
(2) Public swimming pool. – Any structure, chamber, or tank containing an 22
artificial body of water used by the public for swimming, diving, wading, 23
recreation, or therapy, together with buildings, appurtenances, and equipment 24
used in connection with the body of water, regardless of whether a fee is 25
charged for its use. The term includes municipal, school, hotel, motel, 26
apartment, boarding house, athletic club, or other membership facility pools 27
and spas, spas operating for display at temporary events, and artificial 28
swimming lagoons. 29
(3) Sharing economy platform. – An online platform used to facilitate 30
peer-to-peer transactions to acquire, provide, or share access to goods and 31
services." 32
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 33