5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Montgomery County requires a DPS building permit for all in-ground pools and above-ground pools with decks. Electrical permits required for pool equipment under NEC Article 680.
Pool barriers must be 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates (latch 54 inches above grade) under IRC Appendix G as adopted by Montgomery County.
MoCo enforces pool safety under the county building code and COMAR 10.17.01. Anti-entrapment drain covers (VGBA) and GFCI protection (NEC 680) are required.
Freestanding above-ground pools without decks may be permit-exempt in MoCo, but 48-inch barrier rules still apply for pools deeper than 24 inches.
Portable plug-in hot tubs on existing surfaces need no building permit in MoCo. A locking ASTM F1346 cover substitutes for the 48-inch barrier requirement.
3 cities in Montgomery County have their own swimming pools & spas rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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