Madera County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

Madera County does not write its own pool-barrier dimensions; for unincorporated areas it relies on the California Building Code (Chapter 31) and the statewide Swimming Pool Safety Act in the Health and Safety Code. Health and Safety Code Section 115923 sets the enclosure specification: a minimum height of 60 inches, a maximum vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure of 2 inches, and gaps or voids that do not allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere. Any access gate through the enclosure must open away from the pool and be self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground. The exterior surface of the enclosure must be free of handholds or footholds that could let a child under five climb over. Separately, Health and Safety Code Section 115922 requires a new pool to include at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention safety features (such as the isolation enclosure, removable mesh fencing meeting ASTM F2286, an ASTM F1346 safety cover, exit alarms, self-closing self-latching doors, or an in-water alarm). These barrier and feature checks are verified during the County building-permit inspection.