Kings County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger date
- Pools built after Jan. 1, 1998
- Requirement
- Fence, enclosure, or safety feature
- State law incorporated
- Cal. H&S Code §§115920-115927
- Fence over 7 ft
- Also needs a building permit
Summary
Every private single-family swimming pool built in unincorporated Kings County after January 1, 1998 must be fenced, enclosed, or fitted with a safety feature under state pool-safety law.
All private, single-family home swimming pools constructed after January 1, 1998 shall be fenced, enclosed or equipped with another safety feature as provided in Sections 115920 - 115927 of the California Health and Safety Code.
b. Any fence or wall over seven feet in height is a structure and requires a building permit prior to construction.
c. All heights in this Section shall be measured from the finished grade of site or the adjacent property, which ever is lower.
d. Fences, walls, hedges, gates, walks, driveways and retaining walls may occupy any required yard or other open spaces, subject to the limitations prescribed in the district regulations.
4. Screening Requirements:
a. Open storage of materials attendant to a permitted use or conditional use shall be permitted only within an area surrounded or screened by a solid wall or fence six feet in height, provided that no materials or equipment shall be stored to a height greater than that of the wall or fence. The requirement for a solid or screened fence may be modified or eliminated for situations where law enforcement provides comments on the zoning permit application stipulating that the street side fence be an open-type fence to allow patrol officers to ensure there are no unauthorized persons in the yard after hours.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 508.B.3.a, part of the Residential article's General Fencing and Gate Requirements, applies to every private single-family pool built in the unincorporated county after January 1, 1998: it must be fenced, enclosed, or equipped with another safety feature listed under California Health and Safety Code sections 115920-115927, the state's residential pool-safety statute covering options like an approved cover, exit alarms, or a self-closing, self-latching gate. The county folds the state list straight into its zoning code rather than writing separate local specs. Any resulting fence, wall, or gate that exceeds seven feet in height still needs its own building permit under Sec. 508.B.3.b.
Violations & Fines
A pool built without the required fencing or safety feature is treated as an unlawful nuisance and infraction under Sec. 2403, with a stop-work order possible and each day of noncompliance counted as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kings County require a fence around my backyard pool?
What counts as an acceptable pool safety feature besides a fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kings County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kings County to another location·View the California swimming pools & spas overview
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