The pool fence rule in Hampshire County is set by the state building code, not by any town. Every outdoor pool must stand behind a barrier at least 48 inches high, and that number is identical in Northampton, Amherst, and every valley town because 780 CMR cannot be changed locally.
780 CMR Appendix G, section AG105.2, requires an outdoor in-ground, above-ground, or on-ground pool to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches above grade, measured on the side facing away from the pool. Openings beneath the barrier cannot pass a 4-inch sphere, and horizontal members must be spaced so the barrier cannot be climbed. The enclosure must be finished before the pool is filled. The city or town building inspector verifies it at final inspection; with no county government, there is no separate county fence code.
A pool filled without a compliant 48-inch barrier fails final inspection and draws a stop-use order and fines until the enclosure is built. A gap wider than four inches is a cited defect.
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