Municipal Regulations and Stock Tank Pools in Quebec and Ontario: Permits, Fences, Height
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In short: in Quebec, the Regulation respecting the safety of residential swimming pools covers outdoor basins for swimming with a water depth of 60 cm or more. Our galvanized steel stock tank pools have an interior height of about 58 cm (23 in): they are below that threshold. The round polyethylene tanks (about 60 cm) are right at the limit and the square polyethylene tank (about 71 cm) is above it. In Ontario, municipal by-laws apply. In every case, check with your municipality before installation.
Information checked against official sources in October 2026. This summary is not legal advice.
Our tank heights compared with the thresholds
| Model | Height | Compared with the 60 cm threshold (Quebec) |
|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel: 5', 6', 7', 8' and ovals 6', 7', 8' x 3' | ≈ 58 cm / 23 in (interior) | Below the threshold: the water cannot reach 60 cm |
| Round polyethylene 6' and 8' | ≈ 60 cm | Right at the limit: check with your municipality |
| Square polyethylene 8' x 7' x 28 in | ≈ 71 cm (28 in) | Above the threshold: plan for an enclosure and a permit |
The interior height of about 58 cm of our galvanized steel tanks is listed on each product page. Compare sizes in our guide What size stock tank pool should I choose?
In Quebec: the Regulation respecting the safety of residential swimming pools
The Regulation respecting the safety of residential swimming pools (CQLR, c. S-3.1.02, r. 1) applies everywhere in Quebec, and municipalities enforce it.
Which basins are covered?
Section 1 defines a pool as an outdoor artificial basin, permanent or temporary, intended for swimming, with a water depth of 60 cm or more. The summary document from Quebec's Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation refers to pools that can hold 60 cm of water or more.
What a covered pool requires
- A municipal permit to build, install or replace a pool (section 9).
- An enclosure surrounding the pool (section 3), at least 1.2 m high, that prevents a 10 cm sphere from passing through and has nothing that makes it easy to climb (section 4). A hedge or shrubs cannot serve as an enclosure.
- A gate that closes and latches automatically (section 5).
- Equipment needed to operate the pool installed more than 1 m from the pool wall or enclosure, with some exceptions (section 7).
Section 6 exempts some above-ground pools with walls at least 1.2 m high (1.4 m for a portable pool) from the enclosure, if access is, for example, by a ladder fitted with a safety gate that closes and latches automatically. Our tanks' walls are much lower: a tank covered by the regulation, such as the square polyethylene tank, must therefore be surrounded by an enclosure.
Your municipality can go further
According to the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation summary document (in French), municipalities may adopt stricter rules than those contained in the Regulation. Setbacks from property lines, the house or other structures may also be set by your municipality. A call or email to your planning department before installation makes sure you are compliant.
In Ontario: municipal pool enclosure by-laws
In Ontario, residential pool enclosures are governed by each city's municipal by-laws. Here are three official examples.
Toronto
- Pools covered: under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 447 (Fences), any outdoor structure that can be used for swimming "in which the water depth at any point can exceed 600 millimetres".
- Enclosure: at least 1.2 m on a single residential property; gates on substantial hinges, self-closing, with a self-latching device on the inside near the top, and kept locked except when the pool area is in use.
- Permit: a pool fence enclosure permit is required, and the pool cannot be filled until the City has inspected the enclosure (City of Toronto official page).
Ottawa
- Pools covered: under the Pool Enclosure By-law No. 2013-39, an outdoor pool of water for swimming "capable of retaining a water depth equal to or greater than 600 mm at any point", including hot tubs.
- Enclosure: at least 1.5 m high; self-closing gate with a self-latching device at least 1.35 m up, and a lock.
- Permit: required for the pool and for every enclosure.
Mississauga
- Pools covered: under the Swimming Pool Enclosure By-law 0191-2011 (as amended), an outdoor body of water "which can hold water exceeding 61 centimetres (24 inches) in depth at any point".
- Enclosure: at least 1.22 m (4 ft) for a Class 1 residential pool; self-closing gate with a self-latching device at the top, on the inside.
- Approval: a Certificate of Approval for the enclosure is required before the pool can hold water.
Living elsewhere in Ontario? Thresholds and enclosure heights vary from city to city: check your municipality's pool enclosure by-law.
Our safety tips, whatever the height
- Always supervise children, at all times.
- Never dive or jump into the tank.
- Cover the tank when not in use with the custom cover (also included in the Premium Kit).
- Plug the pump into an outdoor GFCI outlet and remove it before swimming.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a stock tank pool in Quebec?
The Regulation respecting the safety of residential swimming pools requires a municipal permit to install a pool, meaning an outdoor basin for swimming with a water depth of 60 cm or more. Our galvanized steel tanks (interior height of about 58 cm) are below that threshold. Your municipality may still have its own requirements: check with it.
Do I need a fence for a stock tank pool in Ontario?
In Ontario, municipal by-laws apply. In Toronto and Ottawa, enclosures apply to pools whose water can exceed 600 mm (Toronto) or reach 600 mm or more (Ottawa); in Mississauga, more than 61 cm (24 in). Our galvanized steel tanks (about 58 cm interior height) are below these thresholds; the square polyethylene tank (about 71 cm) is above them. Always check with your city.
Does the 28-inch square polyethylene stock tank pool need an enclosure?
Yes, plan for one. At about 71 cm high, it is above the 60 cm threshold in Quebec and above the Toronto, Ottawa and Mississauga thresholds. In Quebec, the enclosure must be at least 1.2 m high, with a gate that closes and latches automatically, and a municipal permit is required.
Can my municipality be stricter than the provincial regulation?
Yes. Quebec's Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation states that municipalities may adopt stricter rules than those in the Regulation. Setbacks from property lines may also be set by your municipality.
What should I ask my municipality before installing?
Give the tank's interior height (about 58 cm for our galvanized steel tanks, about 60 cm for the round polyethylene tanks, about 71 cm for the square one) and ask whether a permit, an enclosure or a minimum setback from property lines applies.
Official sources (checked in October 2026)
- Regulation respecting the safety of residential swimming pools, CQLR, c. S-3.1.02, r. 1 (LégisQuébec)
- Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation: summary of the Regulation (2025, in French)
- City of Toronto: Municipal Code Chapter 447 (Fences) and Fences page
- City of Ottawa: Pool Enclosure By-law No. 2013-39
- City of Mississauga: Swimming Pool Enclosure By-law 0191-2011
Read also
- Setting up a stock tank pool in your yard
- What size stock tank pool should I choose?
- Galvanized steel or polyethylene: which one?
- Stock tank pool FAQ
- All our stock tank pools
A question about a model's height? Email us at info@ilotank.ca: we reply within 1 to 2 business days.