What legal distances must be respected when building your swimming pool?

Are you wondering about theminimum safety distancesto respect before starting theconstructionof your pool? You are right to do so: to avoid any unpleasantness with your neighbors, it is important to respect the legal distances relating to theconstruction of a swimming pool, as laid down in the Urban Planning Code.

If all these legal articles have been defined in the National Urban Planning Plan (PNU) applicable throughout French territory, the majority of French municipalities have their ownLocal Urban Planning Plan(PLU swimming pool) or land use plan (POS).

To avoid making a mistake, it is best to go directly to your municipality's urban planning department. This will allow you to avoid having your request for building permit refused…

Zoom in on what you need to know before you start building your pond.

Building a swimming pool: legal distances to respect

1. Swimming pool regulations: distance from neighbors

You've understood: theconstruction of a swimming poolcannot be done without first defining its location. And if the first instinct is to identify the ideal area – south-facing, protected from the wind, far from foliage – to site your pool, you must not forget that there is legislation concerning the siting distances to be respected: neighborhood rules, public roads, and other special cases (housing developments, for example).

According to article R.11.19 of the Urban Planning Code, future pool owners must provide a minimum distance of 3 meters between your neighbor's fence and the edges of our pool. And this, regardless of the nature of your pool: whether it is an above-ground or in-ground pool, the rules are the same for all pools on the property line!

However, before starting the work,Aboralrecommends that you inquire with your local council. Indeed, it is not impossible that your council imposes specific restrictions regarding shared boundaries. This is particularly the case if your swimming pool is in aclassified area(classified sites, protected sectors, protection zones).

In the event that your municipality has neither a PLU nor acommunal map, inquire about the existence of a RNU (National Urban Planning Regulation) or a POS (Land Use Plan).

However, please note that thecoping stonesand thepool deckmay sometimes be taken into account when calculating the pool's setback distances: this is particularly the case when the latter are raised.

2. Swimming pool regulations: public highway

To avoid any disturbance ornoise pollution, the law also requires your pool to be a minimum distance from the public highway. Consequently, Article R111-6 of the Town Planning Code requires a distance of 40 meters between your pool and the nearest motorway axis, and a distance of 25 meters between your pool and the nearest major route (national or departmental) axis.

Please note, however, that these provisions are only valid outside built-up areas. Thus, if a road adopts a regulation of the local urban area (PLU) of the municipality, it will prevail; it is up to you to inquire with your town hall to find out the restrictions in force!

3. Distance between tree and pool

It's not just the face-to-face with your neighbors, nor the noise pollution that can be disturbing when you're swimming... Indeed, the proximity to vegetation can also be restrictive. Between the insects buzzing and circling around the pool and the deposit of pollen or leaves from the trees, it is preferable to provide a certain distance between your vegetation and the edge of your pool terrace.

Ideally, a distance of at least 1.50 metres between the swimming area and the trees is sufficient.

Finally, when building your pool, don't forget to consider the location of yourtechnical room. Aboral recommends a maximum distance of 10 meters between the room and the pool, so as not to have to invest in an overly powerful pump!

Don't forget the prior declaration

Have you found out about the town planning regulations in force in your municipality? That's a big step!

But before building a swimming pool in your garden, you are required to submit a request to your town hall for a prior declaration of work or a building permit for your development project. These documents will allow the town planning department of the municipality in which the plot is located to check compliance with town planning regulations.

Do you have a swimming pool construction project? For any advice or questions about thelegal distances to respect, do not hesitate to get help from our experts. They will be happy to advise you!