Fayetteville, NC Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Section 30-5.D.2, Applicability, extends Article 30-5.D's fence and wall standards to all construction, substantial reconstruction, or replacement of fences or walls not needed to support a principal or accessory structure, exempting garden walls under Section 30-5.B.4.c.5.d and temporary construction-site fencing, which instead must meet the State Building Code and Section 30-4.E's Temporary Use Standards. Within that same article, Section 30-5.D.3.g, Fences Around Swimming Pools, states plainly that all fences, walls, and barriers for in-ground and above-ground swimming pools must be in accordance with the requirements of the State Building Code, so the city defers the actual barrier specification, height, gate self-closing and self-latching mechanisms, and similar details, entirely to the state code rather than writing its own numbers.

The pool itself is separately regulated as an accessory use under Section 30-4.C.4.h.2, Swimming Pools, which requires the water's edge to sit back at least ten feet from any lot line and, from any building, at least three feet plus one foot for every foot of vertical excavation unless the State Building Code calls for less; pump and filter equipment must sit at least three feet from any lot line; and all pool lighting must comply with the Article 30-5.E exterior lighting standards. Because a pool barrier is still a fence for permitting purposes, an Administrative Zoning Permit under Section 30-2.C.12.b.2 is required before installation, just as it would be for any other fence on the property.