Inground pools in Fairlawn, Ohio

Fairlawn covers about 4.5 square miles and had 7,710 residents at the 2020 census, and the Census Bureau counts all of them as urban. It incorporated as a village in 1960 and became a city after the 1970 census. Children here attend Copley-Fairlawn City Schools, which runs Fort Island Primary on Trunko Road inside the city.

For a pool, being built out means three things. If the yard has big old trees, their roots and leaf drop affect where the pool should go. The existing patio, garage and sheds already take up part of the yard. And the neighbors are close enough that the equipment pad, the fence line and even the pool lights need some thought. We design those together from the start.

Fairlawn handles residential pool approvals itself, under Chapter 1294 of its codified ordinances. The Residential Family Swimming Pool Application and its plan submittal guide spell out what the city checks:

• The pool itself, not counting decks and walks, can't cover more than 15 percent of the lot.
• No part of the pool can sit closer than 10 feet to the side or rear lot lines.
• Toward any street, the pool must stay back 10 feet more than the building setback line set by the zoning code.
• No outdoor family pool goes in a front yard.
• The barrier must comply with Appendix G of the 2006 International Residential Code.
• The plot plan shows the pool, its area and dimensions, the pump and equipment location, and the distances from the pool and equipment to the neighboring lines.
• For a kit or prefabricated pool, the manufacturer's installation instructions go in with the plans.

That last item covers fiberglass. A Liberty shell arrives as a finished, one-piece pool, so its installation instructions become part of the submission. The city asks for two sets of plot plans and detailed plans, a list of subcontractors for excavation, concrete, fence, plumbing and electrical, and a $40 zoning fee. It says to allow 7 to 10 days for review.

Two things to know. Starting work before the zoning certificate is issued raises the fee to 150 percent on a single-family home. And the electrical permit comes from Summit County Building Standards, not the city. Inspections are called in to Fairlawn's zoning department at least 24 hours ahead.

Appendix G is the model barrier standard many Ohio communities use. Its core points: the top of the barrier at least 48 inches above grade, measured on the side away from the pool; openings that a 4 inch sphere can't pass through; and pedestrian gates that open outward from the pool, close by themselves and latch by themselves. Where the house wall forms part of the barrier, doors that open toward the pool need protection too, such as an alarm or self-closing hardware. It also bars barrier placements that let a child climb over using nearby structures or equipment.

On a Fairlawn lot, the fence often does double duty as privacy screening. We plan its line with the pool so the 10 foot setback, the equipment pad and a clear path to the gate all fit.

We ran USDA soil survey queries for points spread across Fairlawn. Much of Fairlawn maps as urban land mixed with Chili or Canfield soils. Chili formed in gravelly glacial outwash and drains well. Canfield formed in glacial till and has a dense fragipan 15 to 30 inches down, which holds a perched water table 10 to 21 inches below the surface from November to April. Somewhat poorly drained Ravenna and Jimtown soils turn up in places, and a few low spots map as Carlisle muck, an organic soil that stays wet most of the year. The practical upshot: some Fairlawn digs stay dry, others need pumping, and a muck pocket is a reason to move the pool. Summit County footings go to a 38 inch frost line.

The 15 percent cap rarely limits the pool on a normal lot. The setbacks and the space left after the house, garage and trees usually do. That is why we often suggest fiberglass models sized for established yards: the Enrichment 9x17 or Dignity 10x20 at $68,400 installed, the Victory 11x22 at $70,600, or the Hero 12x26 at $74,900. Every package includes Pentair lights, a variable-speed pump, a DE filter, a pool heater and a 4 foot concrete wrap deck. The fence, extra patio, hauling away the dirt and the electrical run from the panel to the equipment pad are extras, and on a built-out street, haul-off is almost always needed. We work with lenders such as PoolLoan.net and HFS Financial to set up financing.

If a shell won't fit the space, a Latham vinyl liner pool can be built to an exact size, and an ICF concrete pool can take any shape.

Most of the calendar is set before anyone digs. We draw the pool, fence, equipment pad and deck in 3D first, then prepare the two plan sets and the subcontractor list so the city's 7 to 10 day review starts with a complete file. Once the certificate is issued, we call OUPS to mark utilities. The dig and shell set follow. Spring can slow things on the wetter Canfield ground, and a late summer start is often the smoothest, with the pool opened and ready when the next swim season comes around.

We reach Fairlawn from Ravenna in about half an hour and also build in Copley, Bath, Cuyahoga Falls, Akron and Richfield. If your home sits near the Fairlawn line, check which community it is actually in before we file, since the rules differ from town to town.