Horry County, SC Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

Horry County's Department of Building Safety enforces the 2021 ISPSC and 2021 IRC, both adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council with a January 1, 2023 implementation date. Under ISPSC Section 305, residential pool barriers must be at least 48 inches high measured on the side facing away from the pool. Openings cannot allow the passage of a 4-inch sphere. Gates serving as part of the barrier must open outward away from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and the latch release must be at least 54 inches from the bottom of the gate (or, if lower, located on the pool side and at least 3 inches below the top). Where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, doors with direct access to the pool must be equipped with an alarm. The Horry County Pool Fence Affidavit (rev. 2021 ISPSC) requires owners to certify compliance before final inspection, and barriers, gates, and alarms must be installed and operational before the final pool inspection is approved.