5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Chatham County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Residential pools in unincorporated Chatham County need a building permit from Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services. Any structure holding water more than 24 inches deep is a swimming pool under Georgia's adopted residential code and must meet its barrier rules.
Georgia IRC Appendix G, AG102.1
Any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water more than 24 inches (610 mm) deep. This includes in-ground, above-ground and on-ground swimming pools, hot tubs and spas.
Under Georgia's adopted residential code, an outdoor pool must be surrounded by a barrier at least 48 inches high measured from the outside, with no gaps or openings that let a 4-inch sphere pass through.
Georgia IRC Appendix G, AG105.2
An outdoor swimming pool, including an in-ground, above-ground or on-ground pool, hot tub or spa, shall be surrounded by a barrier... 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.
Georgia's residential code requires pool access gates to open outward, be self-closing, and have a self-latching device. When the latch is under 54 inches high, the gate and barrier get extra child-proofing to prevent unauthorized entry.
Georgia IRC Appendix G, AG105.2(8)
Pedestrian access gates shall open outward away from the pool, and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device.
Above-ground pools holding water over 24 inches deep are 'swimming pools' under Georgia's code, so the same permit and barrier rules apply. The pool wall can act as the barrier only if the ladder or steps can be secured, locked, or removed.
Georgia IRC Appendix G, AG105.2(10)
The ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access; or The ladder or steps shall be surrounded by a barrier which meets the requirements of Items 1 through 9.
Hot tubs and spas holding water over 24 inches deep are 'swimming pools' under Georgia's code. But a spa or hot tub with a safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is exempt from the pool barrier requirements.
Georgia IRC Appendix G, AG105.5
Spas or hot tubs with a safety cover which comply with ASTM F 1346 shall be exempt from the provisions of this appendix.
1 cities in Chatham County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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