An above-ground pool gets no free pass in Harford County. Its wall serves as the required barrier only when it stands 48 inches high, and under Section 305.5 the ladder must be removable, lockable, or secured.
Under the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, an above-ground pool with a wall at least 48 inches high can use that wall as the barrier. Section 305.5 then requires that any ladder or steps used for access be capable of being secured, locked, or removed to prevent entry, unless the ladder itself is surrounded by a compliant barrier. Harford County still requires a building permit because a permanent above-ground pool over 24 inches deep is a regulated structure, and the pump wiring is bonded and inspected. The prefabricated exemption applies only under 5,000 gallons and under 24 inches deep.
Leaving an unsecured ladder on an above-ground pool is a cited barrier defect. A pool wall under 48 inches without an added fence fails final inspection.
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See how Harford County's above-ground pools rules stack up against other locations.
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