Franklin Township, PA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Franklin Township Code § 27-1713, Swimming Pools, adopted under Ordinance 95-07 in 1995, applies to any swimming pool permitted as an accessory use under § 27-202's definition. Subsection 2 lists four standards. First, the pool must serve only the occupants of the principal use on the property, so it cannot operate as a stand-alone commercial or rental amenity. Second, the pool and any pool-related structure, including decks, pumps and equipment pads, must be set back at least 10 feet from every property line. Third, the barrier requirement most homeowners ask about: the pool area of the entire property must be walled or fenced not less than four feet in height.

The ordinance protects the whole pool area rather than describing gate hardware or self-latching mechanisms, so the Zoning Officer measures compliance by the height of the wall or fence around the enclosed area. Fourth, the pool itself must be located in the side or rear yard of the lot, never the front yard. Because § 27-1713 sits inside Chapter 27, Zoning, a pool that misses the setback or fencing standard is a zoning violation rather than a building-code issue, administered alongside the Township's other accessory-use rules for structures like decks and sheds.

Owners installing an in-ground or above-ground pool should confirm both the four-foot fence height and the 10-foot setback before pouring a deck or setting posts, since the Zoning Officer can require removal or relocation of noncompliant fencing.