Charleston County, SC Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

Charleston County Building Inspection Services enforces the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) and the 2021 International Building Code with South Carolina modifications, both adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council on October 6, 2021 with a January 1, 2023 effective date. Residential pool barriers fall under the 2021 ISPSC Section 305, which is the recognized standard for pool safety in South Carolina. Under Section 305, the top of the barrier must be at least 48 inches above grade measured on the side facing away from the pool or spa. Openings cannot allow a 4-inch sphere to pass. Gates serving as part of the barrier must open outward away from the pool, be self-closing, and be self-latching, with the latch release at least 54 inches from the bottom of the gate (or, if lower, located on the pool side of the gate at least 3 inches below the top). Where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, doors with direct access to the pool must be equipped with an alarm. Residential pool permits are issued through the Charleston County CSS self-service portal, and barriers must be installed and operational before final inspection. Pools located in coastal V-Zones must also meet flood-resistant design requirements documented on the county V-Zone Design Certificate for Pools and Spas.