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Maryland Pool Emergency Phone Law

Yes — Maryland regulation COMAR 10.17.01.21 requires a telephone within the pool enclosure or an adjacent area.

Citation: COMAR 10.17.01.21

The Requirement

Maryland requires public pools to have a telephone capable of contacting emergency services, located within the pool enclosure or an adjacent area.

Citation: COMAR 10.17.01.21

What This Means for Your Property

"Adjacent area" gives some flexibility for pools without room inside the fenced enclosure, but the phone still needs to be close enough for someone to reach it quickly during an emergency.

Copper Landline Retirement Status in Maryland

Carriers across the U.S. are retiring traditional copper landlines. If your pool emergency phone still relies on a copper line in Maryland, that service can go dark without warning — which is why many properties are switching to cellular emergency phones.

Carrier Status Retirement Date
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Data provided by CHNLSYNC Copper Retirement Tracker.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — Maryland regulation COMAR 10.17.01.21 requires a telephone within the pool enclosure or an adjacent area.
In most cases, yes. Maryland's pool phone requirement generally applies to any public or semi-public pool, which typically includes HOA, condo, and apartment community pools, not just commercial facilities. Confirm with your local health department if you're unsure how your specific pool is classified.
Generally yes — most states, including Maryland, don't require a traditional landline specifically. A dedicated cellular emergency phone that reliably dials emergency services without extra steps is typically an acceptable way to meet the requirement, particularly for pools that don't already have phone lines run to the deck.
Enforcement is usually handled by the state or local health department (or a building/safety code office) as part of routine pool inspections and licensing, sometimes with extra rules added at the county level. If you're unsure which office covers your property, your local health department is the best place to start.

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Need Help With Compliance in Maryland?

SouthEast Telephone installs and monitors cellular emergency pool phones nationwide and can help you meet Maryland's requirements.

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