South Jordan regulates above-ground residential swimming pools through the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) adopted by the City Building Department, with Utah State amendments under Title 15A. The barrier around an above-ground pool must be at least 48 inches high above grade, must not allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere, and must surround the entire perimeter. The pool wall itself may serve as the barrier under ISPSC Section 305.5 only if it is at least 48 inches above grade for the entire perimeter and any ladder or steps used to access the pool can be secured, locked, or removed so that the resulting opening will not pass a 4-inch sphere. Public/community above-ground pools (HOA, apartment, hotel) are also subject to Utah Admin Code R392-302, which requires a 6-foot perimeter fence with self-closing, self-latching gates.
South Jordan has adopted the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), and the related 2021 International family of codes plus the 2023 National Electrical Code, all subject to Utah State Amendments under the State Construction Code, Title 15A. Above-ground pools are reviewed by the City Building Department as part of the swimming-pool permit process. The ISPSC's residential pool barrier rules in Section 305 apply to any pool capable of holding water more than 24 inches deep, including above-ground pools. The top of the barrier must be not less than 48 inches above grade measured on the side of the barrier facing away from the pool, the barrier must be continuous around the entire perimeter, openings in the barrier must not allow the passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere, and the area between the bottom of the barrier and grade must not exceed 2 inches on a solid surface or 4 inches on grade. Section 305.5 specifically addresses above-ground pool walls used as barriers: the pool wall itself can serve as the barrier when it is at least 48 inches above grade for the entire perimeter, but if a ladder or steps is used as the means of access, the ladder/steps must be capable of being secured, locked, or removed to prevent unauthorized access, and any opening created by securing or removing the ladder must not allow a 4-inch sphere to pass. Where a deck wraps around an above-ground pool such that the pool wall is closer to grade than 48 inches, an ISPSC-compliant barrier must be installed around the deck. Gate hardware must be self-closing and self-latching, with the release mechanism on the pool side at least 54 inches from the bottom of the gate (with no openings within 18 inches of the release mechanism larger than 1/2 inch), or as otherwise specified for low-mounted releases. Doors with direct access from the dwelling to the pool must be equipped with an alarm or self-closing/self-latching device with the release at least 54 inches above the floor, per ISPSC Section 305.4. Public or community above-ground pools (HOA amenity centers in master-planned developments such as Daybreak, apartment complexes, hotels) are additionally subject to Utah Administrative Code R392-302, which requires the perimeter to be enclosed with a fence or other barrier at least 6 feet in height (measured on the exterior side), prohibits passage of a 4-inch sphere through any opening, requires self-closing and self-latching gates with a self-locking mechanism between 34 and 48 inches above ground (or a self-latching mechanism at 54 inches with a lock between 34 and 48 inches), prohibits openings greater than 1/2 inch within 18 inches of the locking mechanism, and requires at least one outward-opening exit gate; local health officers may exempt indoor pools and may modify height requirements for hotel/motel/apartment pools or staffed/lifeguard-supervised entries. Above-ground pools also remain subject to South Jordan's general Residential Fencing rules, which limit rear/side yard fences in agricultural and residential zones to 6 feet in height, and to the City's electrical permit requirements for any pool pump or filter circuit under the 2023 NEC.
Construction or operation of an above-ground swimming pool without ISPSC-compliant barriers and a City building permit is enforced by the South Jordan Building Department and Code Compliance. Penalties include stop-work orders, after-the-fact permit fees, mandated installation of a compliant barrier, and citations under the South Jordan Municipal Code, in addition to the City's standard permit fines. For HOA, apartment, or hotel above-ground pools, additional enforcement under Utah Admin Code R392-302 is exercised by the local health department (Salt Lake County Health Department), which can order closure until the 6-foot perimeter barrier and self-closing/self-latching gate requirements are met. A homeowner who removes a pool's ladder but leaves an opening that admits a 4-inch sphere is treated as having no barrier and may face citation regardless of pool wall height.
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