Close or Remove Your Inground Pool This Fall? A London, Ontario Guide
If your pool cost you more than it gave back this summer, fall is the best time to decide whether to close it again or remove it for good. Removing it before freeze-up saves you the closing, the winter cover worry and next spring's opening. The fill also gets a winter to settle, so the yard is ready for sod in spring. If you still love the pool and it's in good repair, close it properly and plan upgrades instead.
This guide is for homeowners in London, St. Thomas, Strathroy and the rest of southwestern Ontario. It covers the questions we hear most every September and October.
Closing again vs. removing now: the quick comparison
Use this side-by-side to frame the decision.
Upfront cost: closing is a smaller bill this year. Removal is a one-time project cost, but you stop paying for future closings, openings, chemicals and repairs.
Next spring: a closed pool needs opening, cleaning and often repairs. A pool removed this fall leaves a settled area you can sod or seed in spring.
Safety and liability: a closed pool still needs a working fence, gate and cover all winter. A removed and filled pool takes that hazard out of the yard.
Big repairs looming: if you're facing a new liner, coping or concrete work, removal often makes more sense than one more season.
Resale: some buyers want a pool and many don't. In our experience, a usable yard is easier to market than an aging pool.
If three or more of these point to removal, it's worth getting a quote before you pay for another closing.
Why fall is a smart time for pool removal
Late September through November is one of the most practical windows for inground pool removal in southwestern Ontario.
You've had your last swim. Nobody gives up part of the season, and the decision is fresh while the summer's costs are on your mind.
Ground conditions are usually workable. Before the ground freezes, equipment can get in and the backfill can be placed and compacted in layers.
The fill gets a winter to settle. Freeze-thaw and spring rain show any low spots early. You can top them up before you lay sod.
Spring is ready to go. Instead of waiting on a contractor in April, you can go straight to sod installation or seeding once the soil is dry.
No more closing bill. Removing the pool now means you don't pay for one more winterization.
What happens during a fall pool removal
Every project is different, but a typical removal follows the same steps. You can see SPM's full process on our pool removal procedure page.
Site visit and quote. We check access, pool size and construction, and the type of removal that fits your plans.
Utility locates. Locates through Ontario One Call are free. Request them at least 5 business days ahead for a typical single-address job. Homeowner-owned lines, like power to a pool heater, a shed feed or a gas line to a BBQ, need a private locate.
Draining the pool. Follow the City of London's pool water guidance (below) before the pool is emptied.
Demolition. The coping, decking and pool walls are broken out. In a full removal, the shell is hauled away.
Backfill and compaction. Clean fill goes in and is compacted in lifts. Topsoil is then placed on top.
Grading. The area is shaped so water drains away from the house and doesn't run onto the neighbours.
Restoration. Sod or seed goes on in spring or, if conditions allow, right away.
Not sure which method fits? Our post on partial vs. full pool removal explains the trade-offs.
Pool water: London's rules before you drain
Draining a pool the wrong way can harm local creeks and break city rules. Here is what the City of London says:
Chlorinated pools: dechlorinate the water, then drain it onto your lawn if it can soak in without flowing onto a neighbour's property or into the storm system.
Salt water pools: the chloride levels are too high for storm sewers. The City says to discharge salt water pools to the sanitary connection on your property.
Storm sewer limits: London's Waste Discharge By-law WM-16 counts swimming pool drain water as stormwater. Water entering a storm sewer may not have more than 1.0 mg/L of chlorine.
You can read the City's guidance on its stormwater page. If you're closing your pool rather than removing it, the same rules apply when you lower the water.
The pool by-law and your fence
London's Swimming Pool Fence and Swimming Pool Regulation By-law (PS-5) applies to pools more than 75 cm deep at any point with over 1 m² of surface area. You need a pool fence permit to build a pool or to have or keep one. Inground pools also need a grading and drainage plan approved by a Professional Engineer when they're installed.
What does that mean for this fall?
If you close the pool: your fence, gates and latches still have to meet the by-law all winter. Check that gates self-close and self-latch before the snow flies.
If you remove the pool: the by-law doesn't spell out removal, so call the City's Building Division (519-661-4555) to confirm whether a permit or inspection is needed. Keep the fence up until the work is finished and the hole is filled.
Outside London, rules differ. St. Thomas, for example, has its own pool fence by-law and permit process. Always check with your municipality.
Signs one more closing isn't worth it
Ask yourself honestly:
Did you use the pool fewer than a handful of times this summer?
Is the liner faded, wrinkled or leaking, or is the concrete cracking?
Did opening and closing, chemicals, hydro and repairs add up to more than you expected?
Are the kids grown, or are you planning to sell in the next few years?
Would you rather have a lawn, a garden, a patio or room for a garage or addition?
If you answered yes to several, removal deserves a serious look. For budgeting, our pool removal cost guide walks through what drives the price.
If you decide to close it one more time
That's a perfectly good choice if the pool is in good shape and still used. A few tips for an Ontario winter:
Lower the water to the level your pool builder recommends, following the drainage rules above.
Blow out and plug the lines so they don't freeze and crack.
Use a tight safety cover and keep it clear of heavy snow and debris.
Walk the fence line and fix any gaps, loose boards or sticky gate latches.
Book next year's decision now. If spring repairs come back high, a removal quote in hand makes the choice easy.
A local note for London and area
Much of London and Middlesex County sits on heavy clay soils that drain slowly. That makes compaction and grading after pool removal especially important. A poorly filled pool can turn into a soggy low spot, or a puddle that sends water back toward the house. Since 2006 we've removed and filled pools across London, St. Thomas, Strathroy, Komoka, Ilderton, Dorchester and Kitchener-Waterloo, and every job finishes with grading designed to move water away from the home. Have more questions? Read our pool removal FAQs.
FAQ
Can an inground pool be removed in October or November in Ontario?
Yes. Pool removal can usually go ahead until the ground freezes hard. Fall is a practical window because the swim season is over, the yard is dry enough for equipment, and the backfill has the winter to settle before you sod or seed in spring.
Do I still need to close my pool if I plan to remove it next year?
If removal is more than a few weeks away, yes. A pool left open over an Ontario winter can collect water, debris and ice, and the safety fence and cover still need to be maintained. Removing the pool before freeze-up avoids one more closing bill.
How do I drain my pool legally in London, Ontario?
The City of London advises dechlorinating chlorinated pool water and draining it onto your lawn if it can soak in without running onto a neighbour's property or into the storm system. Salt water pools should be discharged to the sanitary connection on your property. London's Waste Discharge By-law WM-16 limits chlorine in water entering storm sewers to 1.0 mg/L.
Do I need a permit to remove or fill in a pool in London?
London's pool by-law (PS-5) covers pool fences and installing pools, but it doesn't spell out removal. Requirements can change, so confirm with the City's Building Division at 519-661-4555 before work starts. SPM can help you sort out what your property needs.
How much does it cost to remove a pool in London?
Every yard is different. Price depends on pool size and construction, access, the removal method and how much fill is needed. See our 2026 pool removal cost guide for the cost factors, or call for a free quote.
Talk to SPM Landscape & Excavation
If you're weighing one more pool closing against removing the pool for good, we'll walk the yard with you and give you a written quote. SPM has served London and southwestern Ontario since 2006, is WSIB covered and carries $1M in liability insurance. Call (519) 474-0008, email spmlandscape@gmail.com, or visit us at 791 Manchester Rd, London, ON.
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