Why New Pool and Hot Tub Code Changes Matter More Than Ever

June 1, 2026

As an electrical contractor, pools and hot tubs aren’t just another install. They’re high-liability environments where small oversights can turn into serious safety issues.

And those risks aren’t theoretical.

“We are seeing reports of shocks at hot tubs,” says ESA Technical Advisor Trevor Tremblay. “We had one example of people just relaxing in their hot tub. They started feeling some electric shocks because of a nearby metal fence.”

The latest updates to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) are designed to address exactly these types of situations, before they become your problem to troubleshoot.

Key Takeaways for Contractors

• Stray voltage is a real issue in pool and hot tub environments
• The OESC now requires full equal potential bonding across all elements
• New requirements include perimeter bonding and water bonding
• Hot tubs now require additional bonding depending on installation
• Proper installation upfront saves hours of troubleshooting later

The Real Issue: Stray Voltage 

If you’ve ever chased down a nuisance shock complaint, you already know how complex and time-consuming it can be.

“It really all comes down to stray current and the earth,” Trevor explains, “as electricity is trying to find every path back to its source.”

In Ontario’s multi-grounded system, that means current doesn’t always take the path you expect. 

“One example,” Trevor highlights, “is when you’re walking out of an in-ground pool, one foot’s on the concrete and one foot’s on the water.”

That difference in potential? That’s where the shock happens, and sometimes the person becomes the conductor.

This isn’t edge-case territory. There are real-life examples where this has occurred. 

“We had one situation where kids were at a public swimming pool and they had to roll out of the shallow end to try to avoid being shocked.”

And the problem didn’t stop at the pool.

“Close to that pool was a municipal ball field where people were actually getting shocks from the metallic fence around the ball field.”

For contractors, this is the takeaway: you’re not just bonding a pool; you’re managing an entire electrical environment.

The Shift in the Code: Build an Equal Potential Plane

The updated OESC doesn’t try to eliminate stray current, it works around it.

“The entire goal of the change is to make everything around the pool equal potential.”

That means every conductive element — pool structure, surrounding surfaces, water, and nearby metal — needs to be tied into the same electrical plane.

“So even if there’s stray current, because there’s no potential difference, you won’t get a shock.”

Hot Tub Bonding: Addressing a Growing Problem

Hot tubs are also seeing increased reports of shock incidents, and the updated Code reflects that.

“The new rule requires a number six bond wire to be run around the hot tub and has to extend 450 to 600 millimeters out and be buried at least 100 to 150 millimeters deep,” Trevor explains, noting that this change is only required if the hot tub is on the ground or on a concrete slab in contact with the earth.

“If it’s on a wooden deck or other insulating material that extends out one meter, then it’s not required.”

Additionally, the new bond ring must be connected back to the bond in the hot tub, creating an equal potential plane between the slab and the tub.

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