Snohomish County, WA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

RCW 19.27.031 establishes the statewide building, mechanical, and residential codes that every Washington county must enforce. The State Building Code Council adopts these in WAC 51-50 (commercial / IBC) and WAC 51-51 (residential / IRC, including IRC Appendix AG on swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs). Under IRC Appendix AG (as adopted by WAC 51-51), residential pools and spas capable of holding water more than 24 inches deep must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high measured on the side of the barrier facing away from the pool. Openings in the barrier cannot pass a 4-inch-diameter sphere. Where the top of the pool is the barrier, or where an above-ground pool wall serves as part of the barrier, separate ladder/step access controls apply. Pedestrian access gates must be self-closing and self-latching, open outward away from the pool, and - when the latch release is less than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate - have the release on the pool side of the gate at least 3 inches below the gate top, with no openings greater than 1/2 inch within 18 inches of the release. Doors from the dwelling that open directly into the pool area must be equipped with an alarm or other approved means (self-closing/self-latching door with hardware 54 inches or more above the floor, or a powered safety cover meeting ASTM F1346). For public and semi-public pools (apartment complexes, hotels, schools), WAC 246-260-031 layers on additional Department of Health barrier rules: openings cannot pass a 4-inch sphere, chain link mesh cannot exceed 1.25 inches without slats, and horizontal members must be 45 inches apart or designed against the ladder effect. Snohomish County PDS issues residential building permits through MyBuildingPermit.com and the Snohomish Health District inspects regulated water recreation facilities.