Gilroy, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Barrier height
- At least 60 inches above finished ground
- Triggers rule
- Water deeper than 18 inches
- Gates
- Must self-close and self-latch
- Ground clearance
- Max 2 in., 4 in. over solid decking
- Climb-proofing
- No handholds/footholds for a child under 5
- Cover exception
- ASTM F1346 safety cover exempts spas/hot tubs
Summary
Gilroy requires private pools, hot tubs, spas and ponds deeper than 18 inches to be fully enclosed by a barrier at least 60 inches tall, under City Code § 6.7(i)(27)'s amendment to Property Maintenance Code Section 303.2. Gates must self-close and self-latch, and the enclosure cannot have handholds a child under five could climb.
(27) Amend Section 303.2 to read as follows: 303.2 Enclosures. Private swimming pools, hot tubs, spas and ponds containing water more than 18 inches in depth shall be completely enclosed by a fence, wall or other barrier not less than 60 inches in height above the finished ground level measured on the side of the barrier away from the pool. Gates and doors in such barriers shall be self-closing and self-latching. Where the self-latching device is less than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the gate. ... The outside surface of the enclosure shall be 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. Existing pool enclosures shall not be removed, replaced, or changed in a manner that reduces its effectiveness as a safety barrier. Exception: Spas or hot tubs with a safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346 shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 6.7(i)(27) amends Property Maintenance Code Section 303.2, Enclosures, to require that private swimming pools, hot tubs, spas and ponds containing water more than 18 inches deep be completely enclosed by a fence, wall or other barrier not less than 60 inches high, measured on the side away from the pool. Gates and doors in the barrier must be self-closing and self-latching; if the release mechanism sits lower than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate, it must be located on the pool side.
The gate must positively close and latch from six inches open. The vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure is capped at two inches, rising to four inches over a solid surface such as a concrete deck. Wood fences with horizontal members spaced less than 45 inches apart must have those members on the pool side of the barrier, and the outside of the enclosure must be free of protrusions, cavities or other footholds and handholds that would let a child under five climb over.
Existing pool enclosures cannot be removed, replaced or altered in a way that reduces their effectiveness as a safety barrier. Spas or hot tubs with an ASTM F1346-compliant safety cover are exempt from the section entirely.
Violations & Fines
A pool, spa or pond enclosure that falls short of the 60-inch barrier height, uses a gate that is not self-closing and self-latching, or leaves climbable footholds on its outside face violates Section 303.2 as amended by § 6.7(i)(27), and the code enforcement process under Chapter 6A's citation procedure applies. Weakening or removing an existing compliant enclosure is treated the same as never building one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall does a pool fence have to be in Gilroy?
Do pool gates need to self-latch in Gilroy?
Are spa covers accepted instead of a fence in Gilroy?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gilroy
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