#dadfail

July 2, 2018 2:06 PM

I ordered a temporary "fast set" above ground pool that is supposed to be here tomorrow. It's 12' in diameter, holds about 1500 gallons and is 24" deep. My kid has been looking forward to it. Thing is, when checking how close I am legally allowed to put it to my house, I found that my particular town requires a building permit and inspection process. (For an inflatable, $59 pool!) Is there another pool I can get in time that will be legal but not be so small as to be obnoxious?

There is no hope of getting the fast set pool approved by 7/4. None. Even were we not approaching a holiday, the process is to apply for a pre-inspection, get the location and plan approved within seven days after that, then have one more inspection before "opening" the pool.

So that's out. I could always be a scofflaw, I guess. But that feels like asking for it.

So what is the best pool I can buy in store or get shipped here by tomorrow, or by Thursday at the latest, that will a: be less than 24" deep; and b) hold less than 1,000 gallons of water.

posted by DirtyOldTown to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

Not to dismiss the importance of building regulations, but what happens if you put it up and the town finds out? In my area people commonly do major renovations without building permits because the penalties are relatively minor and they can often get away with it. Relatedly, are your neighbors jerks?

Can you fill it with less than 1,000 gallons, and be kind of legal? Of course I don’t live in your town (probably), and am not a building engineer, architect, or attorney.
posted by defreckled at 2:16 PM on July 2, 2018 [8 favorites]

What they probably want is a gate around it so that it's less of a drowning hazard. I bought a pool like that one summer in college and my landlord made me take it down.
posted by radioamy at 2:20 PM on July 2, 2018 [3 favorites]

I don't know if these are the best, but they look like the most fun for a temporary pool. The depth limitation seems to really limit your options!
Dual family pool with slide
Water park pool
this one that looks like a hamburger
basic one that's the longest while being shallow enough
a patriotic one

The ones at Target should give you the option to check whether it's in stock near you.
posted by purple_bird at 2:22 PM on July 2, 2018

My husband and I actually have one of the ones linked to by purple_bird we use to sit in drink cocktails & pretend we're at the beach. It's not a bad pool for the price.

I'm a rebel & would put up the one you ordered, plead ignorance if anyone says anything & take it down if called out on the matter. Is there an out of sight of the road place you could put the pool up?
posted by wwax at 2:27 PM on July 2, 2018 [11 favorites]

So, start on the plan for putting a fence around it, which is actually quite important for safety, and for otherwise meeting the legal requirements. I'm often on Team Ask Forgiveness unless it conflicts with safety, and pools are ridiculously dangerous. If you are in the process of meeting the requirements, your town is likely to allow you to proceed.
posted by theora55 at 2:31 PM on July 2, 2018 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: So it turns out my genius kid had a better idea: instead of breaking the law to put up a $59 swimming pool we mostly wanted for the holiday weekend, and instead of sizing down into a kiddie/splash pool, we're just going to return the fast set pool and go to water parks this weekend instead. Comrade Doll is happy too, because it means our goofy pool won't kill her grass.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:09 PM on July 2, 2018 [34 favorites]

Yeah, there's also the problem with how the lawn handles 1500 gallons of water once you decide to deflate the pool. I applaud your genius kid!
posted by Juliet Banana at 4:57 PM on July 2, 2018 [1 favorite]

A lesson for everyone: identify the real issue. The kid wanted swimming, not a pool. You may have the makings of a useful adult there, DirtyOldTown.
posted by Cris E at 8:15 AM on July 3, 2018 [5 favorites]