Dont let it happen to you!

Hello Ive been lurking for a while and this forum is the greatest thing to happen to a pool owner. It has kept my pool looking great. My problem is, a month ago I found out my pool builder built my pool without a permit. But now I am faced with turning in the contract the guy signed and having a seise(SP) and desist order for him cause hes not licensed. I am disabled and on a fixed small income. I am not sure what the inspector will look for and I can not take out another loan till this pool loan is paid off(3 more years), so I cant fix whatever might be wrong. Can anyone tell me the laws for florida pool install. I have a 6ft fence around pool now. Thanks Ron

This is the short version of this story. Their has been problems since he first installed it. He did not use clean sand and had to replace the liner cause of a hole. Now their are 7 things wanting to poke thru again cause he just felt around with his hand and pulled sticks and pebbles up instead of using clean sand. I talked to permit dept and they said lets make you legal :( and id like to know what that might consist of. When installer came over to look at things wanting to poke thru i found out their was no permit. he told me not to expect much from him cause he replaced liner once already Just remembered you will need some info. Its an above ground pool, half burried on one side and the pool wall kind of holds up hill my home sits on. Thanks for any opinion or advise. Ron

I hate to say this, but you need to talk to a lawyer. Usually, a consultation is free. It sounds like this "builder" needs to be sued for everything he's got so he's stuck wearing a barrel for clothes!

If it's a lawsuit, he may work on commission, taking 1/3 of what he gets from the builder.

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I talked to permit dept and they said lets make you legal and id like to know what that might consist of.

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I can't remember everything that was looked at during my pool inspection, and I was not actually there when it was done. A permit for the pool construction and for the electrical was required for where I am at.

I'm assuming or know that they looked at how far the pool was from the house, other structures, and property lines (at least 5 feet, I believe), making sure the pool was grounded, a fence around the pool or the pool in a backyard enclosed by a fence, the fence gate latch was at least 5 feet high and had a spring or some other mechanism to make sure it autromatically closed if left open, the electrical outlet for the motor was at least 5 feet from the pool and had only one outlet to plug into, the additional outlet for the pool lights was at least 10 or 15 feet away, the cable system supplying these outlets was buried at least 18 inches underground or under a deck, and the electrical circuit protected by a GFI device. I'm assuming that they might have checked to see if I had a sewer nearby if I was going to have to backwash - I don't, I have a cartridge filter.

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I am not sure what the inspector will look for and I can not take out another loan till this pool loan is paid off(3 more years), so I cant fix whatever might be wrong. Can anyone tell me the laws for florida pool install.

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Sorry, I can't exactly answer your question, I live in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, so your requirements could be different, but this might give you a general idea for starters.

Either see if your town has pool and electrical permit requirements on their website or call the permit department back and ask them what they inspect for so that you can know exactly what needs to be done before they come out.

I hope this was of some help.

Thank you for your replys. I was affraid to ask permits dept cause I am worried they will ask me to fix what I cant afford yet. Electric is connected into a GFI that is in the house and an extion cord(about 20 ft heavy duty) is run out to pool. Is there ever exceptions made at permits dept? Looks like Im closer than 5 ft, 4.6ft one end and 4.2 at the other Asked lady at local pool store and she said 5ft away also. I guess the worst case is to have to move pool 1ft over. I will have electric fixed next month. I expect trouble from him as he has done a few drive bys already, staring at me menaceingly(SP) and he lives two blocks away and I can hear him start his car. I will have to consult a lawyer soon. Thanks for these replys and anymore you can give. They help somehow. Ron