Bethlehem, PA Fence Regulations: Pool Barriers (2026)

Unlike many PA cities that have their own pool-barrier ordinance, Bethlehem does not. The City's Zoning Code addresses swimming pools in two places - § 1306.03(b)(4) requires the water surface of a pool to be at least 6 feet from any side or rear lot line, and § 1322(yy) ('Additional Requirements for Specific Uses' - Swimming Pools) sets the broader rules: pools in residential zones must meet the front-yard setback for a principal structure (with a 20-ft minimum from the front lot line in the RT district), pools must be 6 feet from any side or rear property line, decks over 3 feet adjacent to a pool must be 6 feet from any lot line, and - critically for fencing - § 1322(yy)(4) states: 'See the fencing requirements in the Uniform Construction Codes.' That cross-reference picks up the PA UCC's statewide adoption of the 2018 ISPSC under 34 Pa. Code Ch. 403, which is the controlling barrier rule in Bethlehem. ISPSC § 305 requires: barrier top at least 48 inches above grade measured on the side facing away from the pool; openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a 4-inch sphere; maximum vertical clearance at the bottom of the barrier is 2 inches when the finished ground surface is below grade, or 4 inches when finished ground is level; solid barriers without decorative cutouts shall not contain indentations or protrusions that could be used as a climbing aid; chain-link barriers shall have a maximum mesh size of 1-3/4 inches measured horizontally unless slats are installed; horizontal members on the pool side, if spaced less than 45 inches apart, get additional climb-aid restrictions; pedestrian access gates must open outward away from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and the release mechanism must be at least 54 inches above grade (or be located on the pool side and shielded). Where the dwelling wall serves as one side of the barrier, doors that open directly into the pool enclosure must have an alarm meeting UL 2017 or a self-closing / self-latching door (ISPSC § 305.4). For an aboveground pool, the pool wall itself can count as part of the 48-inch barrier provided the ladder is removable or otherwise secured and the access point can be closed to a 48-inch height.