Stearns County, MN Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

1 of Land Use and Zoning Ordinance No. 439 sets the performance standard for residential swimming pools in the townships and unincorporated area. Subsection C requires the pool itself, or the yard surrounding it, to be enclosed by a wall, fence, or combination of the two that stands at least six feet high, with a self-closing gate that can be secured with a lock so no one gets uncontrolled access; every point of access into the enclosure has to be lockable. The ordinance allows one substitute for fencing: an automatic pool cover that meets ASTM standard F1346-91 can replace the barrier requirement entirely.

Subsection D adds a design rule for in-ground pools specifically: the fencing has to be durable and built to discourage climbing, though an existing building wall can serve as part of the enclosure. Subsection E covers above-ground pools, letting the pool's own vertical or outward-slanting sides count toward the six-foot barrier, provided every access point, including ladders and stairs, is controlled and removed when the pool is not in use. Subsection A also requires the pool to meet whatever setback applies in its zoning district, and Subsection B separately addresses permitting, since a construction site permit is not required for the pool itself, though a shoreland alteration permit can apply near a lake or river.

The Environmental Services Department enforces the fencing standard countywide outside incorporated cities, and a pool built without the required barrier is treated the same as any other zoning violation under the ordinance's general compliance and penalty provisions.