Pool and Spa

LaPorte County Ordinance 94.16 regulates the public and semi-public use of pools. The State of Indiana rule for pools is 410 IAC 6-2.1. A facility is a public or semi-public pool if more than two families use the facility. For example, public or semi-public pools can be found at hotels, neighborhood associations, condominiums, or apartment complexes, which are all required to be permitted and comply with the state code and county ordinance. The La Porte County Health Department (LCHD) annual permit fee is $50.00, and the permit is to be renewed yearly by December 31st. The La Porte County Pool Annual Application/New Pool Construction Application can be downloaded here. Each pool on one property that has its own recirculation system is considered a separate unit.
Prior to construction, rehabilitation, or alteration of any swimming pool in La Porte County, plans and specification sheets with the approval and design release number from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Office of Fire and Building Services Division Plan Review Branch and approval from the local building authority shall be submitted to this office for plan review. Swimming pool design and construction standards can be found at 675 IAC 20 (in PDF format). The Office of Fire and Building Services plan review application can be found here. Each facility is inspected four times a year, and each facility is expected to comply with state and county rules. Each facility is required to employ a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) at all times. CPO classes are available in a variety of formats, that is, online or traditional classroom. The health department does not provide CPO training; however, you may call the health department at (219) 326-6808 ext 2200 for class information. Please provide the LCHD copies of certification/recertification (certification is valid for 5 years) documentation.
Weekly bacteriological monitoring of your pool is required as a condition of your permit. One water sample per unit must be submitted to a laboratory certified in pool water testing each week. we have a certified bacteriological laboratory on site (La Porte County Complex, 4th floor) that offers pool water testing. If an outside laboratory is used, the results must be faxed to (219) 325-8628 as soon as the results are available.
Our lab hours and pricing can be found here.
Two consecutive unsatisfactory bacteriological water results or three unsatisfactory bacteriological water results in a six-week perios will result in automatic pool/spa closure. Additionally, failure to collect and analyze weekly water samples during the perios that a pool is open for use is considered an unsatisfactory report for the applicable week. The pool will be re-opened after a LCHD Environmental Health Specialist receives results of a satisfactory sample.
Download and print our La Porte County Swimming Pool Log here.
The Indiana State Department of Health's Pool website has a plethora of valuable information, FAQs, and forms that can be downloaded and used at any time.