Cabarrus County, NC Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Cabarrus County adopts the pool-fencing standard set by Appendix G of the North Carolina Building Code and points to it directly in Section 6-10 of its Development Ordinance, titled Fencing Around Swimming Pools. Every outdoor swimming pool in the unincorporated county, whether an in-ground pool, an above-ground pool, a spa or a hot tub covered by Appendix G, must be enclosed by a barrier or fence measuring at least four feet in height. The barrier's gate has to be self-closing and positive self-latching, and the ordinance further requires the gate to be equipped with hardware capable of permanent locking, not just a simple latch a child could reach or defeat.

Because the county incorporates Appendix G by reference rather than restating its full text, homeowners and installers must consult that appendix of the North Carolina Building Code, Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs section, for the complete list of barrier specifications. This four-foot barrier requirement is distinct from, and in addition to, the five and seven-foot residential fence-height caps in Section 6-9: a pool enclosure only has to clear the four-foot minimum, even though a property's perimeter fence may be taller or shorter. Cabarrus County Code Enforcement and the Building Inspections Division confirm barrier compliance as part of the building permit and final inspection process for any new pool installation, since Section 6-10 is written into the county's general development standards rather than left solely to the state building code.