Clifton, NJ Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Clifton Code § 403-31A requires that, except as otherwise provided, every private swimming pool be completely surrounded by a fence situated not less than five feet from the edge of the pool, containing a gate of the same height and material as the fence and fitted with a lock. The gate must be kept closed and securely locked at all times except during actual entry or exit, and a residence wall, accessory-building wall, or existing wall or fence may serve as part of the required enclosure if it otherwise complies with the article and the Zoning Ordinance's rules on accessory-use location.

Section 403-31B exempts a portable pool with a side water depth of 12 inches or less and a longest horizontal dimension not exceeding seven feet from the fencing requirement, provided it is removed and stored when not in actual use under adult supervision. Section 403-31C creates a second exemption for pools built with sides, or a combination of sides and a barrier, at least six feet high measured from ground level where the only access is a ladder or stairway; a portable ladder or stairway must be removed and stored under adult supervision when the pool is not in use, and a fixed ladder must instead be topped with a locked gate at least four feet high.

The article's FENCE definition at § 403-22 confirms the barrier must be a durable wood, metal or other firm material at least four feet high, built to prevent passage except through a gate, and conforming to the Zoning Ordinance's fence and wall standards, with existing fences that complied when built grandfathered in.