Fencing Requirements: Bakersfield vs Ridgecrest
How do fencing requirements rules compare between Bakersfield, CA and Ridgecrest, CA?
Bakersfield and Ridgecrest have similar restriction levels.
Bakersfield, CA
Kern County
Bakersfield enforces California Health & Safety Code sections 115920-115929 (the Swimming Pool Safety Act) for all new residential pools and spas. Pools must be surrounded by a barrier at least 60 inches high with no gaps wider than 4 inches and no horizontal handholds below 45 inches. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching with the release at least 54 inches above the ground. Owners must install at least two of seven drowning-prevention features listed in section 115922, which include the barrier, pool covers, door alarms, and pool alarms. The enclosure must separate the pool from the home and neighboring yards.
View full Bakersfield rules →Ridgecrest, CA
Kern County
Ridgecrest enforces a layered framework: local Ridgecrest Municipal Code Chapter XI § 11-1.1 (Protective Enclosure for Swimming Pools, Etc.), the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code §§115920-115929), and the 2022 California Building Code §3109 / California Residential Code Appendix AX adopted under the building department. Any swimming pool, fish pond, wading pool, or artificial body of water 18 inches or deeper must be enclosed by a permanent barrier of at least five feet (60 inches), and new or remodeled pools must include at least two of seven approved drowning prevention features.
View full Ridgecrest rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Bakersfield | Ridgecrest |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Local Ordinance | - | RMC Ch. XI § 11-1.1 |
| Depth Trigger | - | 18 inches (incl. ponds) |
| Barrier Height | - | 60 inches minimum (5 ft) |
| Bottom Clearance | - | Max 2 inches from grade |
| Mesh Opening | - | Max 1 3/4 in (chain link) |
| Gate Latch Release | - | 60+ inches above ground |
| Gate Swing | - | Outward, away from pool |
| Adopted Code | - | 2022 CBC §3109 / CRC App AX |
| Required Features | - | 2 of 7 per HSC §115922 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Bakersfield FAQ
Ridgecrest FAQ
Does Ridgecrest's pool fence rule apply to fish ponds and wading pools?
Yes. RMC § 11-1.1 explicitly covers swimming pools, fish ponds, wading pools, and any outside body of water created by artificial means with a depth of 18 inches or more in any portion. This is broader than state law, which focuses on swimming pools and spas. A backyard koi pond deeper than 18 inches must be enclosed by a five-foot fence, wall, or equivalent barrier under the city's local ordinance.
Can my house wall serve as part of the pool barrier in Ridgecrest?
Yes for the state-law side of the requirement. Under HSC §115922, the dwelling can form one side of the enclosure provided that doors with direct pool access have either a self-closing/self-latching device with release at least 54 inches above the floor, or an approved exit alarm. The local RMC § 11-1.1 simply requires that no openings large enough to admit a child exist except through doors or gates, so a properly equipped house wall is acceptable. Garage overhead doors and vehicle driveway gates cannot count as part of the required barrier.
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