Georgetown County, SC Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted pool code
- International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2018 Edition
- Permit required before
- Any swimming pool construction begins
- Plan review time
- 10 working days (1-2 family), 15 (commercial)
- Re-inspection fee
- $100 if site not ready
- Penalty for violation
- Up to $500 fine or 30 days jail
- Enforced by
- Georgetown County Building Official
Summary
Georgetown County has adopted the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as county law, so any barrier, fence or gate around a pool in the unincorporated county must meet that code's standards. Before you dig, Sec. 7-10 of the county code requires a building permit for swimming pool construction, and building official inspections confirm the barrier is installed before the county signs off.
(1)Building codes: The following codes as noted and as herein contained shall constitute and become an ordinance of the County of Georgetown: ... j.The International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2018 Edition. ... ... Sec. 7-10. - Permitting. (a)A building permit is required if the work involves any referenced code or any county ordinance. No construction, remodeling, plumbing, electrical, mechanical or gas work, nor swimming pool construction or land development shall begin without securing the required permit from the building official or authorized representative.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 7-1(1) lists the model codes Georgetown County Council has enacted as county ordinance, including the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2018 Edition, alongside the 2021 International Residential and Building Codes. Because the ISPSC governs pool enclosures, fences, gates and self-closing/self-latching hardware, that adopted code, not a separate county fence chapter, is what a Waccamaw Neck or Murrells Inlet homeowner must satisfy. Sec. 7-10(a) makes clear that no swimming pool construction may begin without first securing a permit from the building official or an authorized representative, the same permit requirement that applies to any construction, remodeling or land development under a referenced code.
Plans must be reviewed under Sec. 7-9 (commercial projects within fifteen working days, one- and two-family projects within ten), stamped and approved before work starts, and Sec. 7-11 requires the permit card be posted facing the public right-of-way for the duration of the job. Sec. 7-12 lists inspection procedures, including a $100 re-inspection fee if the site is not ready when an inspection is requested. Failing to obtain the required permit or building an enclosure that does not meet the adopted ISPSC standards exposes the property owner to enforcement under Sec. 7-18, the county's general building-code violations and penalties section covering all Chapter 7 codes.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 7-18 makes any violation of the building articles, including building without a required permit, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars or imprisonment of not more than thirty days, with each day of continuing violation charged as a separate offense. A missed or failed inspection under Sec. 7-12 also carries a $100 re-inspection fee before work can proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to install an in-ground pool at my Waccamaw Neck home?
What code sets the pool fence and gate requirements?
What if the county building official cannot inspect my pool on the requested day?
What happens if I build a pool without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Georgetown County
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