5 rules for unincorporated Hampshire County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Hampshire County has had no county government since 1999, so a pool permit comes from your town or city building department. Every community works from the same statewide code, 780 CMR, and a pool is a regulated structure that needs a permit before you dig or assemble.
The pool fence rule in Hampshire County is set by the state building code, not by any town. Every outdoor pool must stand behind a barrier at least 48 inches high, and that number is identical in Northampton, Amherst, and every valley town because 780 CMR cannot be changed locally.
780 CMR 51.00 Appendix G AG105.2
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.
Pool safety across Hampshire County runs on 780 CMR Appendix G. The gate does most of the work: every pedestrian gate has to swing outward, close on its own, and latch on its own, so the barrier is never left standing open.
780 CMR 51.00 Appendix G AG105.2
Pedestrian access gates shall open outward away from the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device.
An above-ground pool gets no discount in Hampshire County. Its wall can serve as the required barrier only when it reaches 48 inches, and the access ladder must be removable or lockable so it cannot be climbed when the pool is unattended.
780 CMR 51.00 Appendix G AG105.2
The ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access.
Hot tubs get the one real exemption in the pool code. A spa or hot tub fitted with a safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is excused from the barrier rules, so no 48-inch fence is required around it anywhere in Hampshire County.
780 CMR 51.00 Appendix G AG105.5
Spas or hot tubs with a safety cover which complies with ASTM F 1346, as listed in Section AG107, shall be exempt from the provisions of this appendix.
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