Section 820.100  Permits

a)         Construction Permit.  A construction permit must be obtained prior to beginning any construction, development or installation of a swimming pool or bathing beach.

b)         Procedure to Obtain a Construction Permit.

1)         The owner or his representative must submit to the Department a completed application for a construction permit.  The application forms are available from the Department.

2)         One set of detailed construction plans and specifications each bearing the seal and signature of an engineer or architect, licensed to practice in Illinois, shall be submitted for initial review.  However, three sets of such drawings shall be submitted prior to the issuance of a construction permit. These plans and specifications shall comply with the following requirements:

A)        All plans and specifications shall be clear, consistent and legible and include the name of the project location, the scale in feet, the north point and date.

B)        Detailed plans shall consist of plan view, elevations, sections and supplementary views and specifications. Dimensions and relative elevations of structures and equipment, location and size of piping, water levels, ground elevations, and pump curve(s) shall be included.  The plans and specifications shall indicate compliance with all applicable requirements.

C)        No change in location or construction of the project shall be made from plans and specifications that have been approved without first submitting details of the proposed changes to the Department and receiving subsequent approval.

3)         Construction Requirements in Flood Plains

A)        Scope.  All construction, development or installation shall be built in accordance with the flood damage prevention standards of the Flood Plain Regulations of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources,  (92 Ill. Adm. Code 706).

B)        Verification of Compliance.  When construction, development or installation is proposed in a flood plain, the applicant shall determine if the site is in a Special Flood Hazard Area.  The "Special Flood Hazard Area Location Request Form," available from the Department, shall be completed and submitted to the Department. If the site is located in such an area plans for the project shall be forwarded to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  No project to be located in a Special Flood Hazard Area shall be approved without written approval from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

c)         Revised Plans and Specifications.  If Department review of the submitted documentation identifies the need for correction to the plans and/or specifications, corrected copies shall be submitted.  If the revised documentation is satisfactory pursuant to this Section, a construction permit shall be issued to the applicant.

d)         Procedure After the Issuance of a Construction Permit.   The facility owner or permit applicant shall notify the appropriate Department regional office or authorized agent, as specified with the issuance of the permit, when construction, development or installation of the project has been initiated and again when construction, development or installation has been completed.

            An owner of a new swimming pool facility, or a facility that has undergone extensive modification or replacement of the pool structure, shall not operate, or allow to be operated, the swimming pool until a license for such operation has been issued by the Department.  In order to apply for a license, an original license application form shall be completed and submitted to the Department with the appropriate fee.  The license applicant shall contact the appropriate regional office to make arrangements for an inspection of the facility after making application and ensuring that the facility is in an operating condition and in compliance with this Part.  A current license for a pool that is to undergo extensive modification of the pool structure shall expire when the modification is initiated.

            No currently licensed facility that has undergone development, or for which development is planned, shall be operated during or following such development until authorization of operation has been issued by the Department.

            The owner, manager or other responsible party must keep a set of plans and specifications bearing the approval stamp of the Department at the pool or beach after the project has been completed.

e)         Alterations or Repairs of Existing Facilities.  Repairs or remodeling of existing pools must be in compliance with design requirements in this Part.  Alterations that meet the definition of development as defined in Section 820.10 of this Part shall require a construction permit.

f)          Preliminary Concept Approval.  The Department will review innovative design concepts and other design features that are not in strict compliance with this Part in advance of submission of plans and specifications to assure that the proposed concept or design will meet the intent of this Part.  Preliminary concept reviews may be conducted at the request of the project designer so that the innovative design(s) can be explained.

(Source:  Amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 6079, effective May 20, 1999)