Sacramento County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum barrier height
- 60 inches above grade (non-pool side)
- Max gap at bottom
- 2 inches (4 inches over a solid deck or on an above-ground structure)
- Max opening
- No passage of a 1-3/4 inch sphere
- Chain link
- Not less than 11 gauge
- Gates
- Self-closing and self-latching; swing away from pool
- No-climb fencing
- Not acceptable as a barrier
Summary
Outdoor pools in unincorporated Sacramento County must be enclosed by a barrier at least 60 inches high (measured from the side facing away from the pool), with a maximum 2-inch gap at the bottom. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching. The barrier is set by County Code Section 16.36.130.
An enclosure shall have all of the following characteristics:
(a) Any access gates through the enclosure open away from the swimming pool, and are self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground.
(b) A minimum height of 60 inches.
(c) A maximum vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure of two inches.
(d) Gaps or voids, if any, do not allow passage of a sphere equal to or greater than four inches in diameter.
(e) An outside surface free of protrusions, cavities, or other physical characteristics that would serve as handholds or footholds that could enable a child below the age of five years to climb over.
Full Breakdown
130 sets prescriptive barrier standards for all outdoor pools, spas, and hot tubs in the unincorporated area. The top of the barrier must be at least 60 inches above grade measured on the side facing away from the pool, and the maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier is 2 inches (increased to 4 inches where grade is a solid surface such as a concrete deck, or when the barrier is mounted on top of an above-ground pool). Openings in the barrier must not allow passage of a 1-3/4 inch diameter sphere; for fencing with vertical and horizontal members, vertical spacing may increase to 4 inches only when the horizontal members are 45 inches or more apart.
Where horizontal members are less than 45 inches apart, they must be placed on the pool side. Chain link fences used as the barrier must be not less than 11 gauge with no opening greater than 1-3/4 inches. Decorative cutouts or protrusions that make the barrier climbable are prohibited, and 'no-climb fencing' is not acceptable as a barrier. Access gates must comply with the barrier standards; pedestrian gates must be self-closing, self-latching, and swing away from the pool. The barrier must be inspected and approved before the pool is filled.
Violations & Fines
An outdoor pool may not be filled until the barrier is inspected and approved. Missing, non-conforming, or climbable barriers, or non-self-latching gates, are code violations that must be corrected before the pool can be used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall does my pool fence have to be?
What are the gate rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
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