Indianapolis-Marion County enforces residential swimming pool barrier requirements through the Indiana Residential Code (675 IAC 14, adopting the 2018 IRC with amendments) Appendix AG, which requires any pool with water depth greater than 24 inches to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high measured on the exterior side, with no openings allowing passage of a 4-inch sphere, and gates that are self-closing and self-latching with the release mechanism at least 54 inches above the ground. Pools 24 inches deep or less and most spas/hot tubs with safety covers are exempt. Public and semi-public pools are separately regulated by the Marion County Public Health Department under 410 IAC 6-2.1 and the Health and Hospital Corporation pool ordinance.
Residential swimming pool barrier requirements in Indianapolis-Marion County are enforced through the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS) under the Indianapolis-Marion County Building Code (Revised Code Chapter 536) and Chapter 321 (Beaches and Swimming Pools), which adopt and incorporate the Indiana Residential Code (675 IAC 14-4.4, adopting the 2018 IRC with Indiana amendments) including Appendix AG (Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs). Under Section AG105, any residential pool, spa or hot tub containing water more than 24 inches (610 mm) deep must be surrounded by a barrier meeting these requirements: (1) the top of the barrier must be at least 48 inches above grade measured on the side of the barrier facing away from the pool; (2) the maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier is 2 inches on solid surfaces and 4 inches on grass/non-solid; (3) openings must not allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere; (4) horizontal members on the pool side must be at least 45 inches apart, otherwise the mesh openings between vertical members cannot exceed 1.75 inches; (5) chain-link fence mesh openings cannot exceed 1.75 inches unless slats reduce them; (6) access gates must open outward away from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, with the release mechanism at least 54 inches above the bottom of the gate; (7) where a dwelling wall serves as part of the barrier, doors with direct access to the pool must be equipped with an alarm or the pool must have an approved safety cover meeting ASTM F1346. A building permit is required for any pool deeper than 24 inches and for the barrier; permits are obtained through the DBNS Citizen Access Portal at citizen.indy.gov. Public and semi-public pools (apartments, hotels, HOAs, clubs) are separately regulated by the Marion County Public Health Department's Pools Program under Indiana State Department of Health rule 410 IAC 6-2.1 (Public Pool Code) and Chapter 16 of the Code of the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, with stricter enclosure, signage, and inspection requirements.
Construction or operation of a swimming pool without a required barrier or building permit is a violation of the Indianapolis-Marion County Building Code (Revised Code Chapter 536) and the Indiana Residential Code, enforceable by the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services through stop-work orders, citations, and civil penalties under Revised Code Chapter 103 (Code Enforcement). Failure to maintain a self-closing, self-latching gate or a 48-inch barrier can result in citations, daily fines, and orders to drain or secure the pool until corrected. Public/semi-public pool barrier violations are enforced separately by the Marion County Public Health Department with possible permit suspension or closure under HHC ordinance Chapter 16.
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