Fencing Requirements: Arlington vs Somerville
How do fencing requirements rules compare between Arlington, MA and Somerville, MA?
Arlington has fewer restrictions than Somerville.
Arlington, MA
Middlesex County
Middlesex County, MA has no county-level pool fence rules. Massachusetts is a home-rule state and pool barriers are governed by state code (780 CMR Appendix G / IRC AG105 and 105 CMR 435), enforced by each town's building inspector. Statewide minimum: 48-inch barrier, self-closing/self-latching gate, 4-inch sphere rule.
View full Arlington rules →Somerville, MA
Middlesex County
Somerville pools 24 inches deep or deeper must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates under the Massachusetts State Building Code Appendix G and 780 CMR.
View full Somerville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington | Somerville |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Minimum Height | - | 48 inches |
| Gate | - | Self-closing self-latching |
| Latch Height | - | 54 inches minimum |
| Bar Spacing | - | Max 4 inches |
| Contact | - | Somerville 311 or (617) 625-6600 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington FAQ
Somerville FAQ
Does my Somerville hot tub need a fence?
Not if it has a lockable safety cover meeting ASTM F1346. Otherwise, it must be enclosed by a 48-inch barrier like any pool.
Can my house wall count as part of the fence?
Yes, but doors leading to the pool area must have alarms, or the pool must have an ASTM-compliant power safety cover.
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