Does your pool need a lifeguard?

Since July 17, 2025, safety at swimming facilities in Québec falls under Chapter IX, "Lieux de baignade", of the Code de sécurité, enforced by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). Here is what it says about supervision, by type of pool.

The general rule

A lifeguard must be present whenever the pool is open to the public, unless specific measures apply to the site (see below).

Condos and rental buildings

Chapter IX covers, among others, pools in buildings with more than 8 dwelling units, depending on the pool's surface area and whether it has a diving board; check with the RBQ whether your building is covered.

Pools in residential buildings (condo or rental) do not have to have a lifeguard. The owner or syndicate must still post at the entrance and enforce these rules:

• a maximum of 15 bathers at a time;
• children under 12 accompanied by a responsible person aged 16 or older;
• children aged 7 or under within arm's reach and accompanied in the water, with no more than 2 children under 7 per responsible person;
• no one swims alone.

If those rules can't be enforced, or if more than 15 people are to use the pool at once, supervision is required. In practice, this can happen on busy summer weekends.

Hotels and tourist accommodation

A pool of 100 m² or less (except at a summer camp) may be open without a lifeguard under strict conditions, including:

• a designated person aged 16 or older with a valid first-aid certificate (at least 16 hours, including CPR), on site at all times and reachable by bathers;
• a maximum of 15 bathers, and no one swimming alone (unless remotely monitored);
• children under 12 accompanied by a responsible person aged 16 or older; children aged 7 or under within arm's reach and accompanied in the water, with no more than 2 children under 7 per responsible person;
• no diving board, slide or fixed play equipment;
• a door locked from the outside at all times with automatic closing, and the rules and emergency measures posted at the entrance; each guest is told the rules before receiving a key, card or code;
• if the pool is deeper than 1.4 m: a Lifesaving Society Soins d'urgence aquatique (aquatic emergency care) certificate for the designated person, the deep end identified by a rope with floats and a marking on the pool edge, and life jackets in a range of sizes available.

Above 100 m², or if those conditions can't be met, a lifeguard is required.

Private seniors' residences

Similar conditions allow pools of 100 m² or less to be used without a lifeguard by autonomous or semi-autonomous residents and their guests. The same applies to supervised residences.

Public, municipal, school and club pools

The general rule applies: a lifeguard must be present whenever the pool is open.

Who can supervise, and how many?

• The lifeguard must be at least 16 and hold the certification required for that type of facility; an assistant lifeguard must be at least 15. The RBQ publishes a table of accepted certifications.
• The number of lifeguards must reflect the number of bathers, the features of the site and visual obstacles, and may need to be increased depending on the activity or clientele (for example, groups of children).
• The operator must prepare a supervision and rescue plan that staff know and apply.

What about insurance?

Your insurer may have its own requirements, even where the rules don't require a lifeguard. Check your policy before the season.

Need help with your pool?

We can assess with you whether your pool needs supervision and, if so, how many lifeguards and at what times. See our services for condos, hotels and municipalities, schools and clubs.