Reading, PA Fence Regulations: Pool Barriers (2026)

Reading's local pool-barrier rule lives in Zoning Code § 600-1013, which states that all pools must be enclosed with a permanent barrier or fence not less than four feet (48 inches) in height, with no opening having a dimension greater than four inches, and that the fence must have a gate that is securely locked when the pool is not in use. For aboveground pools, the portion of the pool wall extending above the ground may be counted as part of the required barrier, but the ladder or stairway must be removable or rendered unusable, and the entrance to the pool must be capable of being securely closed to a height of four feet. Hot tubs, spas, and inflatable pools may, in lieu of the four-foot fence, use a cover that secures to prevent access when not in use. Aboveground pools must be located in rear yards with at least three feet of open perimeter around the entire pool. Reading's local rule is reinforced by - and in some places exceeded by - the Pennsylvania Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC 2018), adopted statewide under the Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code Ch. 401-405). ISPSC § 305 sets the 48-inch barrier height, the 4-inch maximum opening, a 2-3/8-inch maximum gap at the bottom of the barrier, self-closing/self-latching gates that open outward away from the pool, latch hardware at least 54 inches from the ground (or shielded), and additional rules for fences with horizontal members (which can serve as a climb-aid). Where the local Reading rule and the state ISPSC rule both apply, the stricter standard governs. Reading's Building Code Official enforces ISPSC compliance through the UCC permitting process; the Zoning Officer enforces § 600-1013 location and barrier rules.