Public Pool and Tourist Facility Program
The Oregon Health Authority
Public Pool and Tourist Facility Program works in partnership with local health departments, the recreation and tourist industry and the public to reduce the risk of waterborne illness and injury at public facilities. The program provides technical assistance, training, and education; coordinates rulemaking; and oversees the field inspection system.
OAR 333-062-0000, 6.4.2.2.1 and 6.4.2.2.3
Public Hearing November 17, 2026 at 2pm
Written Public Comment Period open until November 30, 2026
Updating lifeguarded pool signage requirement related to direct adult supervision
You are invited to review and comment on the proposed rules. For more information, please see the
Notice to Interested Parties, the
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the
updated rule language.
There are two (2) options to provide comment:
1. You may provide oral (spoken) testimony during a public hearing scheduled on
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. Pacific Time via video/phone conference using Microsoft Teams.
- To provide oral testimony during this hearing:
- Join using the
Meeting URL. You can also find the join link for the meeting in the
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking under “Remote Meeting Details" using the “Meeting URL."
- You may also contact the Public Health Division Rules Coordinator at
publichealth.rules@odhsoha.oregon.gov to sign-up to give oral testimony and receive the link for the Microsoft Teams video conference via calendar appointment.
- To join the hearing via phone (audio/listen only), you may dial 971-277-2343, phone conference ID 985 660 741#
2. Written comments may be submitted before
5:00 P.M. Pacific Time on November 30, 2026:
- Email comments to:
publichealth.rules@odhsoha.oregon.gov
- Mail comments* to:
OHA, Public Health Division
Brittany Hall, Administrative Rules Coordinator
800 NE Oregon St. Suite 930
Portland, OR 97232
*Comments sent by regular mail must be postmarked by 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time on November 30, 2026.
Send comments by fax to: 971-673-1299
Final rules will be filed after consideration of all comments.
History:
Historically, Oregon has required children under 14 years in non-lifeguarded pools to have adult supervision. This rule provision was expanded as part of the 2026 rule update to align with the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) to include lifeguarded pools. The MAHC does not differentiate between limited use and general use pools.
After adoption, there was public concern around this
section, which specifies that lifeguarded pools must have signage identifying that children under the age of 14 years must have direct supervision by a person aged 18 years or older in a general use pool and further requires the pool operator to enforce this requirement.
Given these concerns, the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA’s) Food, Pool and Lodging Health and Safety Program initiated a temporary rulemaking to provide pool operators with more flexibility over the summer season. While the temporary rule was in effect, OHA convened a rule advisory committee to further consider the policy concerns regarding required supervision to create permanent rule language to use statewide moving forward.
OAR 333-060 and 333-062 - Aquatic Facility Rules Filed - 4/1/25
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division, Public Pool Program repealed Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) in chapter 333, division 60, “Public Swimming Pools" and chapter 333, division 062, “Public Spa Pools," and adopted new rules in these divisions to reorganize and update rules relating to aquatic facility requirements. These OARs have been added onto and revised many times over the years and the program has decided to adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services, 2023 Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC), 4th Edition to bring Oregon's rules closer to the national standard for aquatic venue safety.
The goal of the reorganization was to update rule language to better address the public health concerns with modern aquatic venues as well as to group sections of related topics together so users can more easily find information based on their responsibilities at an aquatic venue. The original rules were separated by facility type with pools separated from spas. However, with this rule update, the rules include all types of aquatic venues (ex; pools, spas, splash pads) and instead separate the rule sets by activity (construction provisions and operational provisions). This will allow both industry and regulators to utilize the rules more efficiently and include a wider variety of pool types.
Most existing licensed aquatic venues will be able to continue to operate as licensed after the rule adoption with minimal impact.