Environmental Health Engineering assists local building departments with their review of the application and plans for the construction permit of new or modified public swimming pool facilities in Volusia and Flagler Counties. These different facilities include swimming pools, therapy spas, wading pools, interactive water features as well as special water park attractions. Once these facilities are permitted by the local building departments and constructed, a final engineering inspection is conducted prior to issuance of the operating permit. These inspections assure compliance with the applicable standards and that all of the equipment is functioning as originally designed.

Staff routinely inspect public swimming pools and spas which serve hotels, condominiums, apartment buildings and other public facilities. Inspections are conducted to check on such items as water chemistry, safety equipment and the recirculation equipment.

As of October 1, 2014, changes to Florida Statutes 514 and 553 require that an application for an operating permit must be submitted to the Department of Health before the Building Department can issue a construction or modification permit for a public pool. The new application form DH4159 and the Permitting Sequence is found at The Florida Department of Health website under the For Business- Permits tab. The Building Department also cannot issue a Certificate of Completion or Occupancy until the Department of Health issues the operating permit.

We recommend you contact the Department at least a week before the planned opening

The bacteriological water quality of public bathing places is also monitored by the Department. There are very few beaches, lakes, streams, rivers or springs that meet Florida's criteria for approved bathing places, due to our climate's high median temperature and the possibility of infection from microorganisms.

For more information please visit the Florida Department of Health website.