Bill
HB 2495
Enacts statewide requirements for private pool enclosures, including 42-inch barriers with strict openings, plus required permitting and periodic inspections to reduce drownings.
Status: Enacted — signed by Governor 2025-06-20; effective 2025-09-01
Primary sponsor (listed): Rep. Mariana Sandoval (with multiple cosponsors)
Purpose
- Establish minimum statewide safety standards for enclosures (barriers) around private residential outdoor swimming pools to reduce drownings and unauthorized access.
Key provisions
- Definition of “swimming pool”: an outdoor artificial basin on private residential property intended for owner/guest use that either (a) has depth > 24 inches and covers > 25 sq. ft., or (b) holds > 200 gallons. Excludes: pools subject to State Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Act or Swimming Pool Safety Act, above‑ground pools with height ≥ 42 inches, and jacuzzis.
- Barrier requirement: any swimming pool whose construction/installation is completed on or after the Act’s effective date must be completely enclosed by a permanent barrier (fence, wall, or other effective barrier) that:
- Is at least 42 inches in height; and
- Has openings no greater than 2 inches between the bottom and grade, and no more than 4 inches elsewhere within the barrier.
- Permits and inspections:
- No person may install or construct a swimming pool without a permit from the municipality where the pool is located, or from the county if it is located outside a municipality.
- By January 1, 2027, each municipality and county must adopt a permitting process for pools.
- Permitted pools must have their enclosures inspected by the permitting unit before issuance of the initial permit and at least once every 5 years thereafter.
- Local regulation and home rule:
- Units of local government may adopt more restrictive enclosure requirements.
- Home rule units are prohibited from adopting regulations that are less restrictive than the State standard (this provision limits home rule where concurrent with state power).
Affected parties
- Private residential property owners who build, modify, or install new outdoor swimming pools on or after the effective date.
- Local governments (municipalities and counties) — required to create permitting processes, perform inspections, and enforce standards.
- Building/permitting offices, code enforcement and inspection personnel.
Implementation timeline and procedural notes
- Effective date: September 1, 2025.
- Local permitting systems required by: January 1, 2027.
- Initial enclosure inspection required before issuance of initial permit; recurring inspections at minimum every 5 years.
- The Act amends relevant provisions of the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code to conform with the new statewide standards and the limitation on less‑restrictive home rule regulation.
Potential impacts (concise)
- Public safety: intended to reduce child drownings and unauthorized access to private pools.
- Compliance costs: owners of new residential pools will incur costs for compliant barriers and permitting/inspection fees.
- Local authority: preserves ability to adopt stricter rules but prevents less‑restrictive local standards than the state.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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