Property with a pool in California

[Alisha138]

This will be our first time putting up a listing with a pool and would love to get some advice! What rules do you guys have stated in your listings? Any safety pool signs in the backyard? Do you provide any child life jackets? Thoughts on a pool liability waiver that every guest has to sign? Would appreciate any advice you can give us. Thanks in advance!

[Kitty-and-Creek0 · Accepted solution]

@Alisha138 

You are wise to ask these questions. Places to get accurate answers are: 

1. The city hall's planning, zoning, permits - building inspector's office. Safety rules and regulations apply to all our communities around pools. Expect an inspection from the  city, so that they can give you the information you need for your unique property. Signs, fences, locked gates and noise ordinances may apply to your public safety checklist.

2. Your insurance agent. In addition to your business insurance, you may need a liability rider for the pool. 

3. Your attorney can advise you on this waiver contract idea, and if it is a good one, can write you one that can cover your risk.

I hope this is helpful. Definitely cover your risks here!

[Mark105]

Good Morning @Alisha138,

We had a rental with a pool.  It was a great selling feature and people loved it. 

We had a special insurance rider with an umbrella policy to cover us in the event of an issue.  The insurance company required us to have life vests for children, pool safety rings, markings on the deck showing the debth, a fence and a safety cover.  We also had a special pool addendum that had to be accepted at booking - you can Google examples for STRs and edit them.  Additionally, we had guests allow thier dogs to use the pool, which twice clogged the filters, guests shut off the pumps resulting in algea blooms, guests running about with glass and shards on the bottom of the pool, and - our favorite - guests turning on the hose to play in the pool, which for us is a disaster because the outdoor water came straight from our well, unfiltered and contains iron, which when in contact with chlorine, turns the pool black.  Fun times!  We don't like lists of rules and waivers, but when it comes to a pool, we tried to cover everything.  

[Paula]

Hello @Alisha138 , as our Hosts mentioned, this is a great question.

Have you had the opportunity to read their advice? They are offering great insights.

If any of their answers were particularly helpful to you, I would like to invite you to mark it as the "Best Answer" as a way to thank them and also to help other hosts find this answer in case they have a similar question to yours 😊