Dallas County, TX Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- State Law
- TX HSC Chapter 757
- Fence Height
- 48 inches minimum
- Gate Latch
- 60 inches from ground
- Chain-Link
- Prohibited for new pools
Summary
TX Health and Safety Code Chapter 757 requires pool enclosures for residential pools deeper than 18 inches. Minimum 48-inch fence height. Self-closing, self-latching gates with latches at least 60 inches high. Chain-link prohibited for new installations.
Sec. 757.003. ENCLOSURE FOR POOL YARD. (a) Except as otherwise provided by Section 757.005, the owner of a multiunit rental complex with a pool or a property owners association that owns, controls, or maintains a pool shall completely enclose the pool yard with a pool yard enclosure. (b) The height of the pool yard enclosure must be at least 48 inches as measured from the ground on the side away from the pool. (c) Openings under the pool yard enclosure may not allow a sphere four inches in diameter to pass under the pool yard enclosure. ... (f) The use of chain link fencing materials is prohibited entirely for a new pool yard enclosure that is constructed after January 1, 1994.
Full Breakdown
Pool barriers in unincorporated Dallas County are governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 757, which applies statewide to residential pools with water depth exceeding 18 inches installed after September 1, 1997. Requirements include a minimum 48-inch fence height, no openings that allow passage of a 4-inch sphere, self-closing and self-latching gates with latches at least 60 inches from the ground, and a prohibition on chain-link fencing for new pool enclosures. The home wall may serve as one side of the barrier if equipped with compliant door hardware. Dallas County does not impose additional pool barrier requirements beyond state law for single-family residential properties.
Violations & Fines
TX HSC Chapter 757: civil liability for non-compliance. Building code violations for commercial pools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fence required around a pool in unincorporated Dallas County?
How tall must a pool fence be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas County to another location·View the Texas swimming pools & spas overview
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