Do You Have To Have A Fence Around A Pool?
- Height. A minimum of 4 feet high (measured on the outer side) is the norm, although a 5-foot fence offers more secure protection.
- Clearance. Under fence clearance should be 4 inches max (2 inches on a non-solid surface such as gravel) to prevent a small child climbing underneath.
- Climbing prevention. Pool pumps, planters, and other large fixed objects that a child could climb on must be kept away from the fence’s exterior.
Full Answer
How high can a fence be around a swimming pool?
If a boundary fence is used as a pool barrier, then this must be at least 1800mm in height. If the fence has vertical members, then these cannot be more than 100mm apart, horizontal members no less than 900 mm apart.
Do I need a pool fence for my Pool?
If your pool is more than 300mm deep you are required to install a pool fence. This includes in ground pools, above ground pools, and temporary blow up pools.
Do You Know Your state’s pool fence regulations?
Knowing the pool fence regulations in your state before you start designing will not only improve safety but it will also create a more functional and visually appealing outdoor space. Looking for pool pavers? Read our article on how to choose the right pool pavers for you outdoor pool area. Decided on putting a pool in your backyard?
Can a boundary fence be used as a pool fence?
Can a boundary fence be a pool fence? If a boundary fence is used as a pool barrier, then this must be at least 1800mm in height. If the fence has vertical members, then these cannot be more than 100mm apart, horizontal members no less than 900 mm apart.
How close to the pool does the fence need to be?
20 inchesThe top of a fence or wall used as a barrier needs to be a minimum of 48 inches above the exterior side of the barrier. The access gate opens away from the swimming pool. There will be a clear zone of at least 20 inches between the barrier and swimming pool.
What is the code for a fence around a pool?
Installed pool fences should be at least 48-inches high from finished ground level, as measured along the outside of the fence and should have no more than a two-inch gap from the bottom of the fence to the ground.
How far should an above ground pool be from a fence?
10 feetNational and Local Requirements There is a national standard that requires that all swimming pools must be at least 10 feet away from the house walls.
Can you put a fence around a pool?
Swimming pools that are in ground, completely or partially, must be enclosed by a fence. Above ground pool installations may need fencing, depending on water depth. (Check exact depth per your local code. It's usually a minimum of 18-24 inches.)
How close to property line can a pool be?
A swimming pool in residential zones or any zone used for residential purposes may occupy a portion of the required rear yard, but in no case shall the outer walls of the pool be less than five (5) feet from an interior side property line or rear property line or building or be less than ten (10) feet from any side ...
Do I need a fence around my pool if my yard is fenced in?
Pool fence regulations – the basics If you have an existing pool or installing a new one, owners will need to install at least two of these safety features to be compliant: A fence that is over 60 inches and surrounds the pool or spa and isolates it from the house.
How much space do you need for an above ground pool?
Most above ground pools require an extra three feet of clearance on each side (or all the way around) to accommodate the supportive uprights. For example, an 18 food round swimming pool will require a total of 24 feet of space.
How far can pool equipment be from pool?
Stay close to the pool Our projects typically average a distance of 20–40 feet from the pool to the equipment, but as stated earlier, much longer runs are sometimes required.
What is the safest pool fence?
The safest pool fence is an ornamental iron fence, for four main reasons. First one is, it's a rigid installation. It's solid, we've got posts, concrete in the ground 16 to 18 inches, no flex in the gate or the fence. The second one: it's permanent.
Do you need a fence around a Jacuzzi?
You Definitely Need an Approved Barrier But, it depends on your local municipality on whether that approved barrier is a locking hot tub cover that meets ASTM F 1346 requirements, or if it's a fence. The ASTM F 1346-approved locking cover is the minimum standard throughout the United States.
Is it a law to have a fence around a pool in California?
The code states that: Any property with a pool in California must have a property fence that is at least 5' tall, measured from the opposite side of the pool. It must also have a self-closing, self-latching pool safety gate and no RV access gates.
How tall does a pool fence need to be in California?
5 ft tallPool fences in California need to be 5 ft tall with gaps between fence slats of 4″ or less, gaps of 2″ or less under the fence, and fence gates must be self-closing and self-latching.
Swimming pool fence placement
Where you place your pool fencing will depend on where your pool is positioned in the backyard. If you have a more confined space, you might be wondering how you’ll integrate a pool fence without making the backyard look closed-in. Swimming pools generally need to be at least 1000mm from the boundary.
Pool fence regulations
Pool fence regulations vary from state to state and are often updated to improve safety around water. Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and the ACT are all the states that must adhere to the current Australian Standard AS1926-2012. In these states, the standard is called up by the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
State regulation resources
For more specific information on pool fencing regulations in your state, click the relevant link below:
Install compliant glass pool fencing
Thinking of getting glass fencing for your pool? We’d love to chat to see how we can help bring your pool to life, get in touch with us here.
How tall should a pool fence be?
If you are going to install a pool fence, you should be thinking about a fence which is five feet tall. This height is sufficient to provide security for most children, as it would be difficult for any small child to climb over a five-foot fence.
How big should a gap between a fence and the ground be?
Furthermore, if the fence is installed over dirt or soft material other than a solid surface such as concrete, the gap between the fence and the ground should be 2″ or less.
Do pool fences have to be self-closing?
Your pool fence should include a gate which is both self-closing and self-latching. Without these features, your fence will naturally have a major security flaw. All it would take is for one person to forget to close the gate in order to provide access to the pool for a small child.
Can a fence help a child climb into a pool?
It should go without saying that you don’t want anything on the fence which may help a child climb over top and into the pool area. If there are elements in the pool fence design – decorative elements, perhaps – those could wind up compromising the integrity of the whole system. Kids are adventurous by nature, and they are willing to try just about anything when they have the chance. Make sure the fence is designed in such a way that makes it impossible for a small child to scale over to the other side.
Is it legal to install a pool fence?
In many locations, installing a pool fence is not just a good idea – it’s the law. To comply with the law in many areas, you will need to confirm that your pool fence installation meets with the requirements laid out for you by the local government.
Can kids dig under a pool fence?
Kids and animals will attempt to dig under the fence to obtain access to the swimming pool. If you are able to follow the advice above when installing your pool fence, you should be in good shape from a security standpoint. Remember, you still need to check on the actual laws governing pool fence installation requirements in your area ...
Exemptions
If your outdoor pool predates February 1, 1991, how close can a pool be to a boundary fence? In this case, it is cleared from local fencing requirements unless you decide to modify its existing fence.
The Standards
While some types of swimming pools are exempt from several fencing laws, all swimming pools, by default, must have a surrounding fence to prevent children from diving in without supervision. But how close can a pool be to a boundary fence?
Things to Remember
Fences or walls from your neighbour’s yard do not count as part of your fence, so plan around these barriers as you calculate the distance between the pool and fences. Also, all pools that are not encased by a building must have a fence around it
