Bessemer, AL Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

6 defines a private swimming pool as any pool or open tank not inside a fully enclosed building that holds water more than one and one-half feet deep at any point. Private pools are permitted in residential districts only if several conditions in subsection (1) are met: the pool must be used solely by the occupants of the property and their guests, no part of the pool other than aprons, walks and equipment rooms may protrude into a required front or side yard, and under subsection (1)(c) the pool area must be walled or fenced 'so as to prevent uncontrolled access by children from the street or from adjacent properties,' with the fence or wall required to be at least four feet high and kept in good condition.

Subsection (1)(d) separately caps pool lighting fixtures at ten feet. Community and club pools operated by a homeowners' association or private club face a parallel barrier requirement under subsection (2)(c): the pool and bather areas must be walled or fenced to the same nominal four-foot minimum, and the surrounding grounds outside the parking area must be landscaped with grass, shrubs and trees maintained in good condition. Neither subsection specifies a self-closing or self-latching gate, so the four-foot height and continuous enclosure are the enforceable elements rather than gate hardware.