Section 3701-31-03 - Responsibilities of the licensor(A) Pre-licensure obligations. Prior to issuing a license to operate a newly constructed or substantially altered public swimming pool, the licensor will determine that plans have been approved in accordance with paragraph (C)(3) of rule 3701-31-02 of the Administrative Code and that all plan verification inspections have been completed in accordance with paragraph (H) of rule 3701-31-05 of the Administrative Code.(1) Initial license inspections. In accordance with paragraph (F) of this rule, the licensor will inspect each public swimming pool in his jurisdiction to determine whether or not the public swimming pool is in compliance with Chapter 3749. of the Revised Code and this chapter prior to the issuance of an initial license. The licensor will make the initial inspection within five days from the date of receipt of notification that the public swimming pool is ready for operation. For the purposes of this chapter, the licensor will maintain a record of each inspection for a period of at least five years. As used in this paragraph: "Initial license" means a license issued for operation or maintenance of a public swimming pool or of a public swimming pool that is being opened for the first time or that is being reopened after the license for its operation or maintenance has been expired for more than one year or has been revoked.
(B) Licensing. Each license issued will be effective from the date of issuance until the last day of May of the following year.(1) License application. The licensor will process complete applications to operate a public swimming pool within thirty days of receipt. The licensor will either issue a license or request additional information from the applicant.(2) License renewal. Applications for license renewal will be in April. Applications received after April thirtieth of each year will be assessed a penalty as authorized by section 3709.09 of the Revised Code. Applications post marked on or before April thirtieth will be considered timely.(3) License transfer. The licensor may allow the transfer of a license to operate a public swimming pool provided the licensor has received satisfactory evidence that the applicant has or will have the legal right to operate or maintain the public swimming pool. Licenses subject to current enforcement action will not be transferred.(4) Denial, suspension, revocation. The licensor of the health district in which a public swimming pool is located may, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revise Code, refuse to grant a license or may suspend or revoke any license issued to any person for failure to comply with the obligations of Chapter 3749. of the Revised Code or this chapter.(C) Cost methodology. Each licensor will utilize the cost methodology specified in rule 3701-36-14 of the Administrative Code to calculate fees for providing services specified in section 3749.04 of the Revised Code. The calculated fees will not exceed the cost of licensing and inspecting public swimming pools. Program account. Except for the amounts obligated to be included as part of an annual license fee under paragraphs (B)(1) and (B)(2) of rule 3701-31-02 of the Administrative Code and except as provided in division (B) of section 3749.07 of the Revised Code, all license fees collected by a licensor will be deposited into the public swimming pool fund created by division (E) of section 3749.04 of the Revised Code in each health district.(D) License fee categories. Except as provided in paragraphs (D)(4) to (D)(6) of this rule, the license fee established by a licensor pursuant to section 3709.09 of the Revised Code for a public swimming pool will be specified in accordance with the following categories:(1) Individual public swimming pools;(2) Individual public spas; and(3) Individual special use pools.(4) Individual and additional licenses. Each individual public swimming pool will be issued an individual license based on the categories listed above. Facilities where multiple public swimming pools are located at the same address, the licensor may establish a reduced fee for each additional license.(5) Government/tax supported schools. For public swimming pools which are operated by the federal government, the state government, or a county, city, township, village, or tax-supported primary or secondary public school, the board of health of a city or general health district may adopt fees that are less than the fees established under paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(3) of this rule.(6) License transfer fee. In accordance with rule 3701-36-14 of the Administrative Code the licensor may adopt a license transfer fee.(E) State fee transmittal schedule. The licensor will collect and transmit the amounts obligated in paragraphs (B)(1) and (B)(2) of rule 3701-31-02 of the Administrative Code to the treasurer of the state to be deposited in the general operations fund created in section 3701.83 of the Revised Code within forty-five days after the end of the quarter in which it is collected.(F) Compliance inspections. The licensor will annually inspect every public swimming pool to determine compliance with Chapter 3749. of the Revised Code and this chapter. A licensor may inspect a public swimming pool anytime it is open to the public. To the extent practical inspections will be conducted during normal business hours.(1) An equipment inventory will be conducted once each calendar year on a form prescribed by the director.(2) The licensor will verify that any equipment replacement is consistent with plans submitted and approved in accordance with paragraph (D)(4) of rule 3701-31-05 of the Administrative Code.(3) The licensor is responsible for verifying that the licensee maintains complete records on file, as specified in paragraph (B)(4) of rule 3701-31-04 of the Administrative Code.(4) Record retention. The licensor will maintain all current public swimming pool plans as long as the pool is in operation and for one year after the license expires. The licensor will maintain a record of each inspection and equipment inventory for a period of at least five years.(5) Prosecution or injunctive relief. The prosecuting attorney of the county, the city director of law, or the attorney general, upon complaint of the licensor, will prosecute to termination or bring an action for injunctive relief, or both, against any person violating sections 3749.01 to 3749.09 of the Revised Code or any rule adopted thereunder.(G) Turnover rates. The licensor may allow a longer turnover rate at an existing public swimming pool under the following conditions:(1) If the licensee documents that the public swimming pool consistently meets the water quality parameters in paragraph (C) of rule 3701-31-04 of the Administrative Code.(2) If the licensor finds that the public swimming pool is consistently in violation of paragraph (F)(1) of rule 3701-31-05.1 of the Administrative Code and the water quality parameters in paragraph (C) of rule 3701-31-04 of the Administrative Code, or if all of the components of the circulation system are replaced, the licensee will bring the pool into compliance with the turnover rate needs specified in paragraph (F)(1) of rule 3701-31-05.1 of the Administrative Code.(H) Limited variance-licensor review. Except as provided in paragraph (C)(1) of rule 3701-31-02 of the Administrative Code, the licensor, with the approval of the director, may grant a variance from the obligations of rule 3701-31-04 of the Administrative Code that will not be contrary to the public interest, where a licensee shows to the satisfaction of the licensor that there is good cause for the issuance of a variance and that the variance will not result in any adverse effect on the public health and safety. The terms, conditions, and expiration date of the limited variance will be set forth in any variance issued by the licensor. Failure to comply with such terms and conditions will constitute a violation of this rule and may result in the revocation of the variance and the license. Variances issued by the licensor are not transferable. No variance will be granted that will either defeat the spirit and general intent of Chapter 3701-31 of the Administrative Code or that will be contrary to Chapter 3749. of the Revised Code.(I) The licensor will forward information received from the operator regarding incidents that occur at the public swimming pool as obligated in paragraph (B)(4)(a)(x) of rule 3701-31-04 of the Administrative Code to the director within thirty days of receipt of the report.Ohio Admin. Code 3701-31-03
Effective: 7/25/2024
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 4/26/2024 and 07/15/2029
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3749.02, 3709.09
Rule Amplifies: 3749.04, 3749.05, 3749.06, 3749.09, 3749.99
Prior Effective Dates: 01/01/1977, 01/01/1991, 01/01/1992, 01/01/1999, 01/01/2004, 04/01/2011