How does installing a pool affect your home insurance in Canada?

With files from Cody Kukay

The article was originally published on April 17, 2019, and was updated on July 18, 2025. 

Installing a swimming pool in your backyard creates a fun space to relax in the summer! It can transform your home into a retreat and make your backyard the destination of the season. But, it also comes with not just added responsibility, but liability that could impact your home insurance. 

In Canada, installing a pool (or purchasing a home with one) may increase your insurance rates as there’s more risk of injury and damage to your home. Here’s everything you need to know about installing a pool and how to keep your premiums affordable.

Does installing a pool increase home insurance premiums?

Yes, installing a pool will typically increase your home insurance premium. Depending on the size of the pool, estimates range from $30-$75 extra per month to insure against damage. When you consider the total cost of repairing or replacing your pool out-of-pocket, the higher home insurance premium doesn’t seem too bad.

So why does it cost more to insure a home with a pool? This is mainly because of the higher risk of third-party liability you take on by having a pool in your backyard. For example, if a neighbour or family member were to get injured or drown on your property, you would be responsible. Swimming pools also increase the value of your home, which means if damage were to occur, it would cost more to either repair or replace. Make sure you have enough replacement cost protection on your policy to avoid having to pay any out-of-pocket fees.

All of these factors come back to the amount of risk your insurance company takes on by insuring your home. There’s a greater chance of a claim when you have a pool in your backyard, which leads to an increase in your monthly or annual rate. 

If you’re considering installing a pool, be sure to compare home insurance quotes to help you find the best price for the added coverage you’d now require. For instance, increasing your personal liability coverage limit is a must – if you were at $1 million, you may want to consider $2 million. This will help you get a better idea of the often overlooked costs associated with owning and maintaining a pool.

Why is installing a pool a liability for homeowners?

According to the Government of Canada, between April 1, 2011, and April 13, 2023, there were 1,109 drowning-related cases reported. Of the total cases, 56% happened in residential or public swimming pools. 

The risk of accidents and drownings is significantly higher when you have a pool in your backyard. The reality in Canada is that homeowners can be held liable for deaths and injuries that take place on their property, including in their pools, even if the victim was trespassing. This adds a tremendous amount of personal liability risk on the homeowner, which is why we can't emphasize enough the importance of having adequate insurance coverage and following the municipal requirements of owning a pool. 

While your homeowner’s insurance policy can help support you with any pool-related lawsuits, you must follow required safety precautions. Failing to do so could invalidate your policy and leave you on the hook to pay for damages on your own. 

How does a home insurance policy protect a swimming pool? 

By now, you should know that you need enough home insurance coverage to protect you and your property when you install a swimming pool. But, what does that actually look like? 

First off, you don’t need to purchase a specific pool insurance policy in Canada, but you do need to let your insurance company know that you are either installing a pool or have purchased a property with an existing pool. A pool will generally be covered under your other structures coverage or part of the dwellings coverage by most companies, though some insurers require an endorsement for a pool. What you may also want to consider is securing additional coverage for any equipment, fence and/or pool shed, on top of increasing your liability coverage.

Protection for the pool, equipment and structures

Once you’ve ensured the proper protection is in place, your policy will insure your pool and equipment against or provide compensation for:

• Damage to the pool structure from standard insured perils – vandalism, theft, fire, and wind-related damages such as a fallen tree. 
• Equipment breakdowns unrelated to negligence or general wear and tear. 

Please note that in order for your pool and related equipment or structures to have coverage against other weather-related events like floods and earthquakes, you would need to have those specific forms of coverage on your policy, as they are not included in a standard policy. The added benefit of having overland water flood protection on your policy means that your home can also be protected against a pool leak or overflow from rainfall. 

What is not covered in most cases is any issues related to lack of maintenance or normal wear and tear. As the property and pool owner, you are expected to take care of your property, and if damages arise out of negligence or aging, then you are responsible for the associated repair costs.

Protection for the pool owner

Perhaps most important, your home insurance policy protects you against liability. This will support you financially should someone get injured or drown in your pool. However, in most cases, the amount of coverage you have in a standard policy is often not enough. 

Many homeowners choose to increase their personal liability, often through umbrella insurance. This is a secondary policy that helps reduce out-of-pocket expenses. For example, if you were sued because someone got injured in your pool and the costs exceeded your policy limits, your umbrella insurance would cover the remaining expenses not paid by your home insurance.

Also read: Protecting yourself and your backyard upgrades this summer

How to reduce your insurance risk and the chance of pool-related claims

Once you have adequate home insurance coverage, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and the possibility of submitting a claim. The first is following the safety requirements outlined by your municipality. 

The actual requirements will vary depending on your location, but in most cases, they include installing a fence around your pool. For example, the Toronto bylaw states homeowners are required to have a fence on their property if they have a private swimming pool, and it must be a minimum of 1.2 meters high. 

Note: If you fail to follow the safety requirements, your insurance company could deny your claim. The same goes if you fail to inform your provider that you installed a pool.

Also, consider posting a warning sign and installing solid or mesh safety covers when the pool isn’t in use. A cover can help keep both people and water out of the pool.

Make sure children are always supervised when in the pool. If anyone chooses not to use the pool safely, get them out of the water. For instance, if your neighbours have a few too many drinks at the block party, get a little rowdy, and start a game of tag on the slippery deck, move the party inside as soon as possible. Create and post the rules of the pool to avoid any arguments with anyone. You don’t need that liability headache.

Finally, remember that insurance isn’t meant to replace run-of-the-mill maintenance tasks. During the summer, get rid of debris in the water, check chlorine levels and make sure toys aren’t stuck in the plumbing. In the off-season, hire a professional to open and close the pool, as well as to check for cracks.

How to keep your home insurance premiums affordable when you have a pool

If you’re eager to install a swimming pool this summer, make sure you review your options to keep your home insurance costs low. Here are some tips: 

• Bundle your home & auto insurance policies to get extra savings.
• Install safety features around your pool to reduce the risk of claims, such as self-closing gates or alarm systems.
• Shop the market and compare home insurance quotes to find your best price with the right level of coverage. 

The bottom line 

A pool is so fun in the hot summer sun and can lead to many great memories for you, your friends, neighbours, and children. But it comes with added risks that increase your liability and likelihood of a claim. To protect yourself, review and upgrade your insurance policy to ensure it offers the right coverage amounts so that you can enjoy your pool worry-free. Happy swimming!

Also read:

• How to reduce home insurance costs with renovations
• How home renovations affect your insurance 
• Do you need home insurance for a renovation