California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code §§115920-115929) controls pool barriers in Sonoma. Enclosures must be at least 60 inches tall with self-closing/self-latching gates opening away from the pool, and new/remodeled pools must include at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention safety features.
Pool fencing in the City of Sonoma is governed by California's Swimming Pool Safety Act, Health & Safety Code §§115920-115929, as enforced through the City's adopted California Building Code. Under HSC §115922, any newly constructed or remodeled private single-family residential swimming pool or spa must include at least two of seven approved drowning prevention safety features: (1) an enclosure meeting §115923, (2) removable mesh fencing meeting ASTM F2286 with a self-closing/self-latching gate, (3) a safety pool cover meeting ASTM F1346, (4) exit alarms on doors providing direct pool access, (5) a self-closing/self-latching device on the door with the release no lower than 54 inches above the floor, (6) an alarm that sounds upon unauthorized water entry meeting ASTM F2208, or (7) other independently verified means. Per HSC §115923, any enclosure used to satisfy these requirements must: be at least 60 inches in height; have no more than 2 inches between the ground and the bottom of the enclosure; have no openings that allow passage of a 4-inch sphere; have no exterior handholds or footholds for children; and have gates that open away from the pool, are self-closing, and have a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground. Sonoma fence-height standards in SMC 19.46.030 (3.5 ft in front setback, 7 ft in rear/side) must also be satisfied; the higher of the two standards controls.
Pool barrier violations are a building code and life-safety violation enforced by the Building Division. Building a pool without compliant barriers or modifying an existing barrier to a noncompliant state can result in stop-work orders, mandatory drain-down or fencing, administrative citations, and denial of certificate of occupancy. Civil liability under HSC §115920 et seq. and tort law for drownings is substantial.
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