Every shared pool needs rules, and every set of rules needs a sign that people will actually read. Whether you manage an apartment complex, a hotel, a homeowners’ association, a swim club, or a backyard pool that hosts the whole neighbourhood in summer, a clear and cheerful rules sign sets expectations before anyone jumps in. This Pool Rules Sign Template lists ten common pool rules in numbered rows, adds the pool hours and a prominent no-lifeguard warning, and wraps it all in a fresh blue-and-white design with waves at the top and bottom.
Poster Layout at a Glance
The sign is 18 x 24 inches in portrait, a common size for pool-side posters and a good match for sign frames on pool fences. The top is a deep pool-blue header with a wavy lower edge and a lighter aqua wave line just beneath it, so the header looks like the surface of the water. On the left of the header, a white swimmer icon rises out of stylised waves. Next to it, POOL RULES is set in large white Fredoka, a rounded, friendly typeface, with Please read before you swim underneath in pale blue.
The middle of the sign is white. Ten rules run down the page, each with a numbered circle alternating between deep blue and aqua and a clean line of Nunito text, separated by thin pale-blue rules. Below the list sit two rounded boxes side by side: POOL HOURS (Daily 8 AM – 9 PM) on pale aqua and NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY (Swim at your own risk) on coral red. The footer echoes the header with another wave band in blue, an emergency line with the pool office phone number, our logo in pale blue, and a red-and-white ring buoy floating on the waves at the right.
The Ten Rules in the Template
- Shower before entering the pool
- No running on the pool deck
- No diving in the shallow end
- Children under 14 must be with an adult
- No glass containers in the pool area
- No food or drinks in the water
- Proper swimwear is required
- Swim diapers required for toddlers
- No pets in the pool area
- Keep the gate closed at all times
These cover the most common safety and hygiene issues at shared pools. Edit, reorder, or replace them to match your own rules.
Rules Worth Considering for Your Pool
Swim clubLap lanes for lap swimming only · Swim with the lane direction
| Type of pool | Extra rules people often add |
|---|---|
| Apartment or condo | Residents and guests only · Maximum two guests per unit · Wristband or key fob required |
| Hotel | Hotel guests only · Towels provided at the front desk · Pool closes during storms. |
| HOA community pool | Sign in at the gate · Guests must be accompanied · No amplified music |
| Backyard pool party | Ask before diving · Kids wear floaties until checked · Adults on watch rota. |
Check Your Local Health Code
Public and semi-public pools, including those at apartments, hotels and HOAs, are often regulated by the local or state health department, and many jurisdictions require specific rules, wording, emergency numbers, occupancy limits or depth markings to be posted. Some require the words No Lifeguard on Duty in letters of a minimum height, or a statement about children swimming unattended. Before you print, compare this sign to your local requirements and add anything missing. The template gives you the design; your health department gives you the exact wording.
Editing the Rules and Boxes
- Rules: each rule is its own text box beside its numbered circle. Click to retype. To remove a rule, delete its text, circle, number, and divider line, then move the rows below up.
- Numbers: the number text in each circle is editable, so reordering is simple.
- Hours: change Daily 8 AM – 9 PM to your schedule, or split it: Mon – Fri 10 – 8 · Sat – Sun 9 – 9.
- Lifeguard box: if lifeguards are on duty, change it to LIFEGUARD ON DUTY · Follow all instructions and switch the red box to a calmer blue.
- Emergency line: put the pool office, building manager, or front desk number here. Always keep a call to 911 or your local emergency number.
- Swimmer icon: an editable vector you can recolour from its colour swatches.
Printing a Sign That Survives the Pool Deck
Chlorine, splashing, and strong sun are hard on signs. For a permanent pool sign, download the PDF and order an 18 x 24 inch aluminium or PVC panel with a UV-resistant laminate; these handle water and sunlight for years without curling. Corrugated plastic is cheaper but can yellow in strong sun. For a temporary or indoor pool, a laminated poster in a clip frame works well. Mount the sign at the pool entrance at eye level, and consider a second copy near the shallow end or the showers.
Making Rules Easy to Follow
People follow rules that are short, specific, and visible. Keep each rule to one line. Put the most important safety rules, such as supervision and diving, near the top of the list. Pair the rules with the right equipment: a clock people can see for pool hours, a gate that closes by itself, a bin for bottles and cans outside the fence, and a shower near the entrance. Rules without the tools to follow them tend to be ignored.
A Few Words for Backyard Pool Owners
Home pools do not usually need a formal sign, but a friendly rules poster is a great way to set expectations when friends and their children come over. Change the header to Welcome to Our Pool and use rules like Ask an adult before swimming, Walk, don’t run, and Sunscreen first. It saves awkward reminders and makes it clear who is responsible for supervising which children.
Pool Sign Questions
Can I add depth markings?
Depth markings are usually required on the pool edge itself, but you can add a line such as Deep end 8 ft · Shallow end 3 ft 6 in under the hours.
Is 18 x 24 big enough?
For most pool entrances, it is. For a large public pool, change the canvas size to 24 x 36 inches and scale the content to match.
Can I include a spa or hot tub rule?
Yes. Add a rule such as: Hot tub limit 15 minutes · Not for children under 12, or make a second sign just for the spa.
Safe Swimming All Summer
Update the rules to match your pool, check your local requirements, and put the sign where every swimmer walks in. A bright, readable poster makes the rules part of the fun rather than a list nobody sees.
