Bristol, PA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Bristol Borough Code § 27-320, Use 7K(3) requires permanent swimming pools above or below grade, except for hot tubs and spas, to be completely enclosed with a minimum four-foot high chain link, stockade, picket (not exceeding two-inch spacing), solid wood fence, building wall, or such other material as is acceptable, at the discretion of the building inspector, to carry out the intent of the chapter. The enclosure must run all the way around the pool, so a fence on three sides does not qualify unless a building wall closes the fourth.

Gates and doors matter as much as the fence. All gates or doors opening through the enclosure shall be kept securely closed and locked at all times when the pool is not in actual use, and the locks or latches must be placed so as to be inaccessible to children. The text calls for a lock, so a gate that merely swings shut is not enough.

The code ties itself to the state building rules. All Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PaUCC) requirements for the securing and fencing of pools shall be followed, and if a discrepancy exists between the PaUCC requirements and the borough's own, the strictest standards shall govern. A pool owner in Bristol Borough therefore has to meet whichever rule is tougher.

Two companion rules cover access. Under Use 7K(4), all detachable ladders shall be removed when an above-ground pool is not in use, so a child cannot climb in. Under Use 7K(11), all hot tubs and spas shall have lockable covers, which is the code's substitute for a perimeter fence on those units.

The Borough Zoning Officer inspects each pool annually under Use 7K(9) to confirm continued compliance, so the fence and latch are checked every year rather than only at installation.