Is a Pool Cover Required by Law in Cape Town? What the City’s Water By-Law Actually Says

If you own a pool in Cape Town, this isn’t just a nice-to-have. The City’s Water By-Law requires you to cover your pool when you’re not using it. And unlike the famous drought-era restrictions, this rule doesn’t switch off when dam levels rise. It’s a permanent regulation. It applies at every restriction level.

Here’s exactly what the City requires, straight from its official water regulations summary.

What the Law Says

The City of Cape Town’s Water By-law (2010, as amended 2018) applies permanently, regardless of the current restriction level. All swimming pools must be covered by a pool cover by law when not in use, to avoid evaporation.

This rule sits alongside other permanent water-saving requirements for pool owners. Automated sprinkler systems need a controlling device. Hosepipes used for filling pools need an automatic self-closing device. Float-valve top-up systems must follow industry best practice.

The Rule for Topping Up Your Pool

The regulations go further for anyone topping up their pool with municipal drinking water. You can top up or fill your pool with municipal water, but only under two conditions. First, you must cover the pool with a non-permeable solid pool cover when it’s not in use. Second, you should recover backwash water and use rainwater for topping up wherever practical.

In other words: if you want to keep legally topping up your pool with municipal water, a proper non-permeable solid cover isn’t optional.

Does a Solar Bubble Cover Meet This Requirement?

Yes. A solar bubble pool cover is a non-permeable, solid sheet that sits directly on the water’s surface. That’s exactly the type of cover the by-law describes for evaporation control and topping-up compliance. It’s why solar covers have become the standard choice for Cape Town pool owners over the past several years. They solve the legal requirement and the water-saving problem at the same time, and they retain heat as a bonus.

Important: This Is Not the Same as a Pool Safety Cover

It’s worth being clear on a separate point, because people often confuse the two. The Water By-law requirement above covers water conservation — evaporation and legal topping-up. That’s a completely different requirement from the child safety rules under the National Building Regulations (SANS 10400 and SANS 10134). Those rules require pool owners to control access to the pool with a fence and a self-latching gate, and separately, with a rated safety net or cover that can support significant weight.

A solar bubble cover satisfies the water by-law. It does not satisfy the child safety standard on its own. Never rely on it to prevent a child or pet from entering the pool. If safety compliance matters for your household, you need a separate, dedicated product.

For more detail, see our article on bubble covers vs safety covers.

What This Means for Cape Town Pool Owners

• Covering your pool isn’t just about saving money on water and chemicals. It’s a standing legal requirement under the City’s Water By-law.
• The requirement applies at all times, at every water restriction level, not only during drought periods.
• To legally top up with municipal water, your cover needs to be non-permeable and solid. Solar bubble covers meet this criterion.
• SANS standards govern safety (child and pet drowning prevention) separately, and that needs its own compliant product.

Get a Compliant, Custom-Fit Solar Pool Cover

We supply and install solar bubble pool covers cut to your exact pool dimensions, so you’re covered on both the water-saving and legal-compliance side. Choose same-day collection, courier delivery, or professional installation anywhere across Cape Town.

Request Your Free Pool Cover Quote →

Source: City of Cape Town, Water Regulations — Summary Table of All Restriction Levels, Water By-law 2010 as amended 2018. This article shares general information; it isn’t legal advice. For questions about your specific property, confirm directly with the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation department.

We service the Northern Suburbs, Southern Suburbs, Atlantic Seaboard, West Coast, and Helderberg District and the Western Cape.