Bloomington, IL Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Bloomington City Code § 22-610, in Chapter 22, Article VI, sets the pool barrier standard: a fence or wall shall be installed and maintained to surround completely a pool, except in the case of a portable, aboveground installation. The barrier must be an effective barrier to small children and stand at least 42 inches high, and gates must have self-closing and self-latching devices placed at the top of the gate. This sits alongside § 22-611, which requires a walk area at least four feet wide around the pool of impervious, easily cleaned material pitched away from the pool edge, and § 22-612, which requires at least two means of egress by steps, ladders, or step holes.

These pool-area standards are enforced together with the construction permit process in § 22-602 through § 22-609: the City Manager's authorized representative may inspect any pool under § 22-614 and, under § 22-615, order a pool closed if it does not meet the sanitary and safety requirements of the article, including the fencing standard. Section 22-616 makes any violation of the pool article, including a missing or noncompliant barrier, punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $200 per offense, with each day the deficiency continues counted as a separate offense.