Fulton County, GA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

12 treats the enclosure as part of the pool itself: all swimming pools must be completely surrounded, and the resolution states the purpose plainly, to prevent access to the pool by unsupervised children and animals. The barrier can take any of three listed forms, a fence, a wall, or a building, but whatever form it takes must be an effective enclosure not less than five feet high. Gates carry their own hardware rule: they must be self-closing and positive-latching, provided on the outer side of the deck area, so the gate closes and latches on its own rather than relying on the last swimmer to shut it behind them.

When the pool is not open for use, the enclosure entrance must be locked, which turns the barrier from a delay into a hard stop outside swimming hours. Surrounding objects must sit five feet back from the enclosure so the barrier cannot be climbed from a nearby ladder, planter or structure. The rule governs unincorporated Fulton County; Atlanta, Sandy Springs and the county's other incorporated cities write their own pool-fence standards, which can differ from the county's.