5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
A building permit is required before you install any residential pool, spa, or hot tub holding water over 24 inches deep. Electrical, plumbing, and building inspections apply. Permits are issued under the North Carolina State Building Code before work begins.
N.C.G.S. 160D-1110(a)
no person shall commence or proceed with any of the following without first securing all permits required by the North Carolina State Building Code and any other State or local laws applicable to any of the following activities: (1) The construction... of any building or structure.
Residential pools deeper than 24 inches must be surrounded by a barrier at least 48 inches high, measured from the outside grade. This is set by the North Carolina Residential Code (adopted IRC), which applies statewide across Forsyth County.
NC Residential Code Sec. NCA105.2.1
The top of the barrier shall be not less than 48 inches (1219 mm) above grade... The vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall not exceed 2 inches (51 mm) for grade surfaces that are not solid, such as grass or gravel.
Beyond the 48-inch barrier, NC Residential Code requires pedestrian gates to swing outward away from the pool and be self-closing and self-latching. Electrical bonding and grounding under NEC Article 680 protect against shock. Public pools face additional state health rules.
NC Residential Code Sec. NCA105.3
Pedestrian access doors and gates shall open outward away from the pool or spa, shall be self-closing and shall have a self-latching device.
Above-ground pools holding water over 24 inches deep need a permit and a 48-inch barrier just like in-ground pools. NC Residential Code lets the pool's own wall serve as the barrier only if it is 48 inches high everywhere and the manufacturer allows it.
NC Residential Code Sec. NCA105.5
Where the top of the pool structure is not less than 48 inches above grade... and the pool wall complies... the pool wall is permitted to serve as a barrier where the pool manufacturer allows the wall to serve as a barrier.
Hot tubs and spas holding water over 24 inches deep are regulated as pools under the NC Residential Code, requiring the 48-inch barrier and permits. A spa with a locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is exempt from the barrier requirement.
NC Residential Code Sec. NCA105.2 (Exception)
A swimming pool with a power safety cover or a spa or hot tub with a safety cover complying with ASTM F1346 shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
1 cities in Forsyth County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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