Beaufort County, SC Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum fence height
- 4 feet
- Trigger depth for pools/ponds
- Over 2 feet deep
- Max fence opening size
- 4 inches
- Gate requirement
- Childproof latch
- Cover alternative
- Lockable, 150-lb rated cover
- Governing code
- CDC § 4.2.170
Summary
Beaufort County requires any swimming pool or ornamental pond deeper than two feet, plus every hot tub and spa, to be enclosed by child-resistant fencing at least four feet tall. Gates need a childproof latch, and hot tubs can substitute a locking 150-pound cover.
A.Fencing. All swimming pools and ornamental ponds and pools having a depth greater than two feet, and all hot tubs and spas shall be enclosed by fencing of a type that is not readily accessible by children and that contains no opening larger than four inches. B.Height of Fencing. Fencing shall be not less than four feet in height and, if equipped with a gate, shall have a childproof latch. Maximum fence height shall conform to the standards in Section 5.4.40, Height Requirements for Fences and Walls. C.In-Lieu of Fencing. In lieu of fencing, spas and hot tubs may have a lockable cover capable of supporting a minimum of 150 pounds, and such cover shall be locked when the spa or hot tub is not in use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 Update 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
170 (Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, and Ornamental Ponds and Pools), any pool or ornamental pond or pool with a depth greater than two feet, along with all hot tubs and spas, must be enclosed by fencing "of a type that is not readily accessible by children" with openings no larger than four inches. The fence itself must stand at least four feet tall, and if it includes a gate, that gate must carry a childproof latch so it cannot be opened by a small child working the mechanism.
Property owners who would rather skip a fence around a spa or hot tub have one alternative under subsection C: a lockable cover rated to support a minimum of 150 pounds, which must actually be locked whenever the spa or hot tub sits unused. 40 sets for the district. 2 (Use-Specific Standards) rather than the general Code of Ordinances, and it applies to the unincorporated county; Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Port Royal and the City of Beaufort administer their own separate pool-fencing rules under their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Building and code enforcement staff can red-tag an unenclosed pool, pond, hot tub, or spa during inspection or on a complaint, and a certificate of occupancy or final pool inspection can be withheld until the barrier and childproof latch are in place. A cover substituted for fencing that isn't rated for 150 pounds or isn't kept locked when the tub is idle does not satisfy the standard and can draw the same enforcement response as having no barrier at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a hot tub in Beaufort County need a fence?
How tall does a pool fence have to be in Beaufort County?
Does this rule apply on Hilton Head Island?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Beaufort County
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