Clearwater enforces Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act requiring a 4-foot barrier, self-closing gates, or alternative safety features on every new residential pool before final inspection.
Pool barriers in Clearwater are governed by Florida Statutes Chapter 515 (Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act) and the Florida Building Code Chapter 45, both enforced through Clearwater Community Development Code Chapter 47 permitting. Every new residential pool, spa, or hot tub must satisfy at least one safety feature before passing final inspection: a barrier at least 4 feet tall surrounding the pool, an approved safety pool cover, exit alarms on all home doors and windows providing direct pool access, or self-closing self-latching devices on those doors with releases at least 54 inches above the floor. Barrier gates must open outward, self-close, and self-latch with the release on the pool side out of a child's reach. Spacing between vertical pickets cannot exceed 1.75 inches.
Failure to equip a new pool with at least one safety feature is a second-degree misdemeanor under FS 515.29; permit close-out is withheld and the pool cannot legally be filled or used.
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