If you own a pool in Quebec and thought you only had until the end of the month to make it compliant, you just got a major break.
On Friday, September 19, Municipal Affairs Minister Geneviève Guilbault announced that the deadline for residential pool safety regulations will be postponed by at least one year. The cutoff had been set for September 30, 2025, but now homeowners have until September 30, 2026 to meet the rules — and avoid fines of up to $1,000.
Guilbault said the extension is meant to help citizens who need more time to adapt, pointing to the costs and challenges of retrofitting backyards.
What the rules require
The regulations apply to all residential pools in Quebec, no matter when they were installed. This includes in-ground, above-ground, temporary, and inflatable models. Requirements include:
- A fence or barrier at least 1.2 metres high
- Self-closing, self-latching gates
- No climbable objects (like ladders, furniture, or barbecues) near the barrier
- Properly secured ladders or access points for above-ground pools
Non-compliance can lead to fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 once enforcement begins. Municipal inspectors are in charge of checks.
Why the deadline is moving
The government’s original compliance deadline of September 30, 2025 was first announced back in 2021. Guilbault confirmed it will now be delayed until at least September 30, 2026, since many homeowners were unable to make the modifications in time:
“Even before I became Minister of Municipal Affairs, many citizens and municipal officials had expressed to me their confusion, irritation and exasperation regarding the rigidity of the standards applicable to the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Regulation,” Guilbault said Friday. “The obligation to comply by September 30, 2025, less than two weeks away, is also impossible for many of them. I have therefore made this file my top priority, to be able to quickly confirm a postponement before the deadline.”
What it means for pool owners
The extension gives homeowners more breathing room, but officials are urging people not to wait. The fines are still coming, and the regulations won’t be watered down.
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