Chatham County, GA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

Georgia operates under the Uniform Codes Act (O.C.G.A. § 8-2-20 et seq.), which makes a single set of state minimum building codes mandatory in every county. Chatham County's Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services enforces the Georgia State Minimum Standard Residential Code (based on the IRC, with state amendments published by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs) and the Georgia State Minimum Standard Swimming Pool and Spa Code (based on the 2012 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code with state amendments). Section 305 of the ISPSC and Appendix V of the IRC require that any residential pool capable of holding water more than 24 inches deep be surrounded by a barrier with: a minimum height of 48 inches measured on the side facing away from the pool; a maximum 4-inch ground clearance (2 inches if grade is loose material); openings that do not allow passage of a 4-inch sphere; horizontal-member spacing such that vertical pickets are no more than 4 inches apart when horizontal members are less than 45 inches apart (and no more than 1.75 inches apart when horizontals are 45+ inches apart, to defeat climbability); and gates that are self-closing, self-latching, with the release mechanism at least 54 inches above the ground and located on the pool side. Where a wall of the dwelling forms part of the barrier, doors with direct pool access must have an approved alarm or self-closing self-latching device. Public swimming pools are also subject to Georgia Department of Public Health Rule 511-3-5 (Public Swimming Pools, Spas, and Recreational Water Parks). Chatham County does not impose stricter local barrier dimensions; cities such as Savannah and Tybee Island administer the same state codes through their own building departments.