Above-ground pools in Gardena are treated as swimming pools under Municipal Code Section 18.42.090, so they cannot sit in a front yard or within five feet of any lot line, building, structure, or utility easement. They also need a permit and the same California barrier standards.
Gardena Municipal Code Section 18.42.090 applies to any swimming pool and its related equipment, which includes above-ground pools. That section states a swimming pool and related equipment shall not be located in any front yard, nor closer than five feet to any lot line or any building or structure, nor within a public utility easement or planned right-of-way. Above-ground pools holding water more than 18 inches deep are regulated as pools under the California codes Gardena adopts, so they generally require a building permit and a barrier meeting Health and Safety Code Section 115923 (60 inches high, self-latching gate). Some very small prefabricated pools may be permit-exempt, but setback and barrier rules still apply.
Placing an above-ground pool in the front yard or within the five-foot setback, or without required fencing, violates Section 18.42.090 and state barrier law. The Community Development Department can order relocation, fencing, or removal; report at (310) 217-9672.
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