Florida health department inspections of commercial pools are unannounced. Inspectors can arrive any time the pool is open and operating — which means your facility needs to be inspection-ready at all times, not just on the days you expect a visit.
Use this checklist as a daily operational tool, not a one-time audit. The items here are what inspectors specifically examine — and the most common sources of violations and closure orders.
Water chemistry — check before opening, minimum twice daily
- ☐ Free chlorine: 1.0–10.0 ppm
- ☐ pH: 7.2–7.8
- ☐ Total alkalinity: 60–180 ppm
- ☐ Cyanuric acid: below 100 ppm (outdoor pools)
- ☐ Test results recorded in log with time, tester name, and corrective action if needed
- ☐ Log book on-site, current, and accessible to inspector
Safety equipment — verify presence and condition daily
- ☐ Shepherd's crook (reaching pole) present and accessible — minimum 12 feet
- ☐ Ring buoy with minimum 50 feet of rope present and accessible
- ☐ First aid kit stocked and accessible
- ☐ Emergency phone accessible without coin or code, capable of reaching 911
- ☐ No obstructions blocking access to any safety equipment
Signage — verify posting
- ☐ Pool rules posted visibly at pool entrance or on deck
- ☐ Depth markers on deck and coping at all slope changes and at maximum depth
- ☐ No diving markers posted where applicable
- ☐ Capacity posting where required by your facility type
- ☐ Hours of operation posted
Drain and anti-entrapment compliance
- ☐ All main drain covers present, secured, and in good condition
- ☐ Drain covers are ANSI/APSP-16 rated anti-entrapment covers
- ☐ No cracked, broken, or missing drain covers
- ☐ Suction outlet covers inspected within the required replacement cycle
Equipment room
- ☐ Pump operating normally — no unusual noise or leaks
- ☐ Filter pressure within normal operating range
- ☐ Chemical storage area organized, chemicals properly labeled and segregated
- ☐ Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on file for all chemicals in use
- ☐ Equipment room accessible and unobstructed for inspector review
- ☐ Backwash/waste discharge routed appropriately — not onto pool deck or into storm drains improperly
ADA accessibility
- ☐ Pool lift present at poolside (not stored), charged, and operational
- ☐ Accessible route to pool deck clear and unobstructed
- ☐ Spa accessible entry present and functional
Operator certification
- ☐ CPO certification documentation on file for the responsible operator
- ☐ Certification current (not expired)
- ☐ Contact information for CPO posted or immediately accessible to staff
Spa and hot tub (if applicable)
- ☐ Spa chemistry tested minimum three times daily during operation
- ☐ Spa temperature within required range (maximum 104°F)
- ☐ Spa drain covers compliant and secure
- ☐ Spa draining and cleaning log current
- ☐ Maximum occupancy posted
After an inspection
If an inspector visits and identifies violations, you will receive a written inspection report specifying each violation and a required correction timeline. Minor violations typically allow 30 days for correction. Critical violations — particularly those involving free chlorine below minimum, non-compliant drain covers, or missing safety equipment — can result in an immediate closure order that stays in effect until the violation is corrected and a re-inspection is passed.
Keep all inspection reports on file. A pattern of repeated violations in the same category is treated more seriously than a first-time finding.