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If your pool sits unused for part of the year, Cyprus law now requires it to be covered, and not just any cover will do. This guide breaks down the cover types, what the law actually requires, and how to choose the right one for your pool.
Does Cyprus Law Require a Pool Cover?
Yes, for any unused or non-operational pool. Under Cyprus Law 137(I)/2025, in force since July 2025, pools that are not in active use must be fenced and fitted with a secure safety cover, primarily to prevent accidental drowning and mosquito breeding in stagnant water. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to €2,000.
This information is general and reflects the law as reported at the time of writing. For how it applies to your specific property, we recommend confirming with your municipality or district office, or your legal advisor. We can talk you through the safety cover side of compliance regardless.
What Types of Pool Cover Are There?
Not every cover satisfies the legal requirement. The key distinction is between certified safety covers, built and tested to prevent a child from falling through or sinking it, and covers designed only to protect the water, which do not meet the same standard.
Certified safety covers are tested against the NF P90-308 standard, the reference standard used across Europe in the absence of a single harmonised EN standard specific to covers. A certified cover must prevent a child under 5 from becoming immersed and must support the weight of an adult, roughly 100kg, without failing.
| Type | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Safety cover (bar or mesh) | Certified to NF P90-308, prevents immersion and supports adult weight | Meeting the legal requirement for an unused pool, families with young children |
| Automatic slatted cover | Motorised, rolls out to seal the pool at the push of a button, often certified | Owners who want daily convenience alongside certified safety |
| Solar / thermal cover | Reduces evaporation and retains heat, not a certified safety device | Reducing running costs on an actively used pool, not a compliance solution alone |
| Winter debris cover | Keeps leaves and debris out over the off-season, not a certified safety device | Seasonal protection, usually paired with a separate safety solution if the pool is unused |
What We’re Seeing in Cyprus This Season
This is exactly the time of year we’d expect to hear from you about a cover. Interest in safety and winter covers typically peaks in late summer and early autumn, well before a pool actually needs covering, which gives us time to fit a certified system properly rather than rushing it once the weather turns.
Since Cyprus’s 2025 pool law came into force, more of these conversations start with compliance rather than convenience. Owners want to know whether the cover already on an unused pool actually counts as a certified safety device, or whether it’s just a tarp doing half the job. It’s a fair question, and one we’d rather answer honestly than let a client assume they’re covered when they’re not.
And in line with where the wider market has been heading, it’s usually the automatic slatted option that wins out once we walk an owner through it against a manual cover they’d have to haul into place by hand every time.
How Do I Choose the Right Cover for My Pool?
Start with whether you need certified safety protection, convenience, or running-cost savings, since no single cover does all three equally well. From there, pool shape, whether you are retrofitting an existing pool or specifying a cover for a new build, and how much you want to spend on ongoing maintenance narrow the choice quickly.
| Factor | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| NF P90-308 certification | Ask for proof of certification, not just a manufacturer’s safety claim | Only certified covers satisfy the legal requirement for an unused pool |
| Pool shape and size compatibility | Confirm the cover system suits your pool’s exact shape, especially for freeform or infinity edges | Not every cover type fits every pool design |
| Motorised vs. manual | Decide whether daily convenience is worth the higher upfront cost | Motorised covers are used more consistently, which matters for both safety and running costs |
| Retrofit feasibility | Ask whether your existing pool can accept a cover system without structural changes | Some cover systems need coping or deck modifications on older pools |
| Local installer support and warranty | Confirm who services the cover after installation and what the warranty covers | Covers are mechanical systems, ongoing support matters |
| Maintenance requirements | Ask what upkeep the cover needs, cleaning, track maintenance, seasonal storage | Affects how much the cover actually gets used |
Our safety covers installation service covers all of the above, from certification through to fitting, for new and existing pools across Cyprus.
Can a Pool Cover Reduce Evaporation and Running Costs?
Yes. Covering the pool when it is not in use reduces water lost to evaporation and heat lost overnight, which in turn reduces how much water, chemicals, and heating you need to keep the pool in good condition. The effect is most noticeable on pools that are covered consistently, which is one of the practical advantages of an automatic system over a manual one that gets skipped.
If you are still at the planning stage for a new pool, our guide to pools in Limassol covers the construction process end to end, and a cover is worth specifying from the outset rather than adding later.
Ready to Cover Your Pool the Right Way?
Whether you need to bring an unused pool into compliance or simply want a cover that suits how you actually use your pool, we can talk through the right option for your situation.
Get in touch to arrange a visit. Get a quote or call +357 25 334676.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cyprus law require a pool cover?
Yes, for any unused or non-operational pool, under Law 137(I)/2025. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to €2,000. This is general information, not legal advice, and we recommend confirming your specific situation with your municipality or district office.
What type of pool cover is best for a Cyprus pool?
It depends on whether you need certified safety protection or simply want to reduce evaporation and heat loss. A certified safety cover satisfies the legal requirement, while a solar cover is better suited to an actively used pool focused on running costs.
What is the difference between a safety cover and a solar cover?
A safety cover is tested and certified to prevent a child from becoming immersed and to support the weight of an adult. A solar cover protects the water and retains heat but is not a certified safety device.
Can a pool cover reduce evaporation and heating costs in Cyprus?
Yes. Covering the pool when not in use reduces both water lost to evaporation and heat lost overnight, which reduces the water, chemicals, and heating needed to maintain it.
What happens if I don’t cover an unused pool in Cyprus?
You risk a fine of up to €2,000 under current law, and more importantly, an uncovered unused pool is a real drowning and mosquito-breeding risk. Fitting a certified cover addresses both.
How long do pool safety covers last in Cyprus’s climate?
We generally tell clients to expect 7 to 15 years from a certified mesh safety cover and 5 to 10 years from a solid safety cover, with solar covers on the shorter end at 3 to 5 years. UV exposure is what wears a cover down fastest, and Cyprus sees some of the most intense sustained sunlight in Europe, so we’d rather set expectations toward the lower end of these ranges than have a client caught out early. We’ll talk through expected lifespan for your specific cover and how you use your pool when we quote.
Can a safety cover be fitted to an existing pool?
In most cases, yes. We assess the pool’s shape, coping, and deck during a site visit to confirm the right system and whether any modifications are needed.
Are automatic pool covers worth the investment?
For most owners, yes. The convenience means the pool actually gets covered consistently, which matters for both safety compliance and reducing running costs, though a manual safety cover is a lower-cost way to meet the legal requirement.