College Station, TX Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

The height rule comes with a specific measuring convention. The enclosure must stand at least 48 inches as measured from the ground on the side away from the pool, meaning the outside face, the side a child would approach from. On uneven ground, that outside measurement is the one that controls. Local codes referenced on this page run from 48 to 60 inches, so 48 inches is the floor, not necessarily the finish line.

Separate rules target crawl space and climbability. Openings under the enclosure may not allow a sphere four inches in diameter to pass under it, which limits the gap at the fence bottom. Diagonal fencing members lower than 49 inches above the ground are prohibited, because angled rails and lattice below that height work like ladder rungs for a climbing child.

Material matters too. Chain link fencing is prohibited entirely for a new pool yard enclosure constructed after January 1, 1994. By its own terms the ban turns on the enclosure's construction date, so it governs new construction after that date rather than fences that already existed.

Gates must be self-closing and self-latching, with latches at least 54 inches above grade. A house wall can serve as part of the barrier if doors opening into the pool area have alarms or self-closing mechanisms. Above-ground pools with sides 48 inches or higher may satisfy the barrier requirement, and pool covers or alarms may supplement, but not replace, the physical barrier.