Does a Yard Fence Meet Swimming Pool Regulations for Fencing?

Does a Yard Fence Meet Swimming Pool Regulations for Fencing? thumbnail
This short, picket fence would probably not meet most building codes.

Building codes require fencing around swimming pools to prevent pool access by young children and accidental drownings. Generally, municipalities approve fencing around swimming pools according to three criteria: height, spacing between fence slats or bars and presence of self-closing gates. Does this Spark an idea?

  1. Pool Fence Height

    • The acceptable height of the fence surrounding an outdoor pool ranges from 5 feet to 6 feet. For example, the city of San Ramon, California, requires a minimum height of 5 feet and the city of Chandler, Arizona, requires a minimum height of 6 feet.

    Openings Between Slats or Bars

    • The width of the openings between bars must be small enough to prevent a child from squeezing through. In the city of San Ramon, California, openings in the fence must not exceed 1 3/4 inches in width. Additionally, building codes require the bottom of the fence to be no farther than 4 inches from the ground.

    Self-closing Gates

    • The gates of pool fences must posses two general characteristics: they must close on their own and have a self-closing latch. As such, pool fence gates must have door-closing springs or spring hinges. The fence's gate latch must automatically engage upon contact with the gate. Additionally, the gate latch must be located high enough to prevent operation by young children.

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