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What Dallas Families Should Know Dallas County Drowning Data The Dallas Swimming Pool Ordinance Vacant and Neglected Pools Damages After a Drowning Talk to Our Dallas Team Frequently Asked QuestionsTHE LAW GIANT pool drowning lawyers:
We Fight for Your Rights
Dallas has its own swimming pool ordinance, and it sets duties for apartment and other shared pools that go beyond basic premises law. When an owner ignores them, a child can reach the water in moments.
Call The Law Giant at 956-982-1800 or contact our Dallas office for a free, private consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
What Dallas Families Should Know
- Apartment pools drive many Dallas County drownings. State data shows half of the county’s child pool drownings in 2025 and 2026 happened at apartments.
- Dallas regulates semi-public pools. City Code Chapter 43A covers shared pools such as those at apartments.
- Abandoned pools must be drained or covered. The City requires it to keep children out of standing water.
- Owners who break safety laws can owe damages. That includes punitive damages for gross negligence.
Dallas County Drowning Data
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reported seven child drownings in Dallas County in 2025. Two were in apartment pools, two in backyard pools and three in bathtubs. Through mid-September 2026, the county had four more, and two of those were at apartment pools.
Apartment pools are shared by many families, and gates get propped open, latches break and key fobs get passed around. Those everyday failures are often where a case begins.
The Dallas Swimming Pool Ordinance
Chapter 43A of the Dallas City Code governs public and semi-public pools. Two rules matter in many drowning cases:
- Enclosures: Under § 43A-11, a pool enclosure must meet the Dallas Building Code and state pool rules.
- Unused pools: Under § 43A-20.1, a semi-public pool that is not maintained must be drained and then filled or covered to keep out water and children.
State Law for Apartment Pools
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 757 adds statewide rules for apartment, condo and HOA pools: a fence at least 48 inches high, self-closing and self-latching gates, and inspections at least every 31 days. A tenant who gives written notice of a violation can also seek a civil penalty if the owner does not fix it.
Vacant and Neglected Pools
Foreclosed homes, closed apartment complexes and abandoned motels often leave behind pools filled with rainwater. Texas recognizes the attractive nuisance doctrine, which can make an owner responsible when an artificial hazard like a pool draws in a child who cannot understand the danger. A Texas appeals court summarized the rule that an owner owes a trespassing child the same duty as an invitee when its conditions are met.
The City’s own pool system is changing too. Dallas runs nine community pools and nine aquatic centers, and the Park Board has backed a plan to retire the older community pools over time. Pools that close but are not drained or secured can become hazards.
Damages After a Drowning
A near-drowning can cause brain injury from lack of oxygen, with lifelong care needs. A family may recover medical costs, future care, lost earning ability, pain and mental anguish. After a death, the family can bring a wrongful death claim under § 71.002.
See our Dallas swimming pool accident lawyers, child injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys.
Talk to Our Dallas Team
Our Dallas office is at 12801 N Central Expressway, Suite 445. We gather city inspection records, lease and HOA documents, gate repair requests and witness accounts, and we work with pool safety experts to show how the drowning could have been prevented.
For statewide rules, see our Texas pool drowning lawyer page and our Texas pool drowning statistics.
Call 956-982-1800 today. We work on contingency, so there is no cost unless we win.
Common Questions
Dallas Pool Drowning FAQs
Does Dallas have its own swimming pool laws?
Yes. Chapter 43A of the Dallas City Code regulates public and semi-public pools, including enclosure requirements and what owners must do with pools that are not maintained. State law in Health and Safety Code Chapter 757 also applies to apartment pools.
Is a property owner liable if a child drowns in an abandoned pool?
Often, yes. Under the attractive nuisance doctrine, an owner can be liable when an artificial hazard like a pool draws in children who cannot see the risk, and the owner could have made it safe at little cost. Dallas also requires unmaintained semi-public pools to be drained and filled or covered.
Can tenants force a landlord to fix a broken pool gate?
Yes. Under Chapter 757, a tenant can give written notice of a pool enclosure violation, and an owner who does not fix it can face a civil penalty of up to $5,000, plus liability if someone is hurt.
What is a near-drowning claim worth?
It depends on the injuries. Some children recover fully, while others suffer brain damage that requires lifelong care. The value of the claim is built from medical records, expert testimony on future care, and the effect on the child’s life.
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