5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Ada County, Idaho.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Ada County, a building permit from Development Services is required to build an in-ground, above-ground, or on-ground pool, hot tub, or spa. The permit review verifies barrier compliance. Inside Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, or Star, apply to that city instead.
Every outdoor pool, hot tub, or spa in Ada County must be surrounded by a barrier at least 48 inches tall, with no more than a 2-inch gap at the bottom, and openings that will not pass a 4-inch sphere.
Ada County / IRC Appendix Section AG 105.2
The top of the barrier shall be at least 48 inches (1219 mm) above grade measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be 2 inches (51 mm)...
Residential pool safety in Ada County is enforced through the AG 105 barrier. Public/commercial pools must follow Idaho Department of Health and Welfare rules (IDAPA 16.02.14), which require lifeguards when bather counts exceed 35 and unsupervised children under 13 are present.
IDAPA 16.02.14.192.01
Lifeguard(s) are required at any public swimming pool when: a. The numbers of bathers within the pool enclosure exceed thirty-five (35); and b. Children under the age of thirteen (13) are allowed to swim without adult supervision.
Above-ground pools are explicitly covered by Ada County's Section AG 105. They need a barrier at least 48 inches tall; the pool wall itself can serve as the barrier if the gap between the top of the wall and the bottom of any mounted fence is no more than 4
Ada County / IRC Appendix Section AG 105.2(1)
Where the top of the pool structure is above grade, such as an above-ground pool, the barrier may be at ground level, such as the pool structure, or mounted on top of the pool structure. Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum vertical clearance between the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier shall be 4 inches (102 mm).
Hot tubs and spas are treated exactly like pools under Ada County's Section AG 105 and must be surrounded by a compliant barrier. The barrier requirement applies to spas and hot tubs the same as in-ground pools.
Ada County / IRC Appendix Section AG 105.2
An outdoor swimming pool, including an in-ground, above-ground or on-ground pool, hot tub or spa shall be surrounded by a barrier which shall comply with the following...
1 cities in Ada County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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