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News Release

OHA To Revisit New Pool Rule Requiring Adults Accompany Kids Under 14 - 06/09/26

June 9, 2026

 

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

 

OHA to revisit new pool rule requiring adults accompany kids under 14

Agency to convene additional public process and ‘recommend’ rather than ‘require’ age limit this season

 

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority is revisiting a new pool rule requiring children younger than 14 to be accompanied by adults at general-use public swimming pools during open swim periods.

 

OHA will adopt a temporary rule to require public pools post a sign with the message that OHA recommends children under 14 be accompanied by an adult. The agency will convene a public process this fall to hear input from parents, caregivers, public pool operators, lifeguards, regulators and other interested parties to inform a decision about making that rule permanent or adopting a different rule.

 

“After hearing from parents and caregivers of older elementary and early middle school-age children, the Food, Pool and Lodging Health and Safety Program is proposing additional discussion with the community and regulated partners to gather more input, ensure equitable access to public pools and continue to keep kids safe,” said Gabriela Goldfarb, manager of OHA’s Environmental Public Health Section.

 

OHA will be notifying all pool operators and local health inspectors that the agency is initiating a temporary rule adoption to amend the signage language.

 

The update to the state’s Aquatic Facility Rules, which were processed through a Rule Advisory Committee (RAC), were formally adopted April 1, 2025. The current language states that “Children under the age of 14 years must have direct supervision by a person aged 18 years or older.” The upcoming temporary rule will require a sign stating, “OHA recommends children under the age of 14 years have direct supervision by a person aged 18 years or older.”

 

For the rule adopted in 2025, OHA and the RAC selected an age limit to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC), which serves as the primary national framework for aquatic safety. This limit was based on national data from CDC, which has consistently shown deaths in swimming pools are high through age 13, then drop starting at 14. That same CDC data show drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14.

 

Additionally, even though the RAC agreed unanimously with the proposal to require those 13 and younger be accompanied by an adult at public pools, the extensive rulemaking process included a broad range of more technical issues, such as pool equipment and chemistry.

 

“Given the technical nature of most of the rules, OHA typically gets participation from pool facility operators and builders, and not the community members using the pool,” Goldfarb noted. “Going forward, when CDC updates its model codes, we’ll work to identify proposed changes that need community conversations to find the right path for Oregon.”

 

Those interested in participating in a workgroup for this issue in the fall can email pool.safety@oha.oregon.gov to be considered. Diverse representation for the discussion is welcomed. 

 

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OHA To Revisit New Pool Rule Requiring Adults Accompany Kids Under 14 - 06/09/26

June 9, 2026

 

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

 

OHA to revisit new pool rule requiring adults accompany kids under 14

Agency to convene additional public process and ‘recommend’ rather than ‘require’ age limit this season

 

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority is revisiting a new pool rule requiring children younger than 14 to be accompanied by adults at general-use public swimming pools during open swim periods.

 

OHA will adopt a temporary rule to require public pools post a sign with the message that OHA recommends children under 14 be accompanied by an adult. The agency will convene a public process this fall to hear input from parents, caregivers, public pool operators, lifeguards, regulators and other interested parties to inform a decision about making that rule permanent or adopting a different rule.

 

“After hearing from parents and caregivers of older elementary and early middle school-age children, the Food, Pool and Lodging Health and Safety Program is proposing additional discussion with the community and regulated partners to gather more input, ensure equitable access to public pools and continue to keep kids safe,” said Gabriela Goldfarb, manager of OHA’s Environmental Public Health Section.

 

OHA will be notifying all pool operators and local health inspectors that the agency is initiating a temporary rule adoption to amend the signage language.

 

The update to the state’s Aquatic Facility Rules, which were processed through a Rule Advisory Committee (RAC), were formally adopted April 1, 2025. The current language states that “Children under the age of 14 years must have direct supervision by a person aged 18 years or older.” The upcoming temporary rule will require a sign stating, “OHA recommends children under the age of 14 years have direct supervision by a person aged 18 years or older.”

 

For the rule adopted in 2025, OHA and the RAC selected an age limit to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC), which serves as the primary national framework for aquatic safety. This limit was based on national data from CDC, which has consistently shown deaths in swimming pools are high through age 13, then drop starting at 14. That same CDC data show drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14.

 

Additionally, even though the RAC agreed unanimously with the proposal to require those 13 and younger be accompanied by an adult at public pools, the extensive rulemaking process included a broad range of more technical issues, such as pool equipment and chemistry.

 

“Given the technical nature of most of the rules, OHA typically gets participation from pool facility operators and builders, and not the community members using the pool,” Goldfarb noted. “Going forward, when CDC updates its model codes, we’ll work to identify proposed changes that need community conversations to find the right path for Oregon.”

 

Those interested in participating in a workgroup for this issue in the fall can email pool.safety@oha.oregon.gov to be considered. Diverse representation for the discussion is welcomed. 

 

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