Janesville, WI Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Sec. 10-27(a) requires every outdoor swimming pool, hot tub and spa in the City of Janesville to be constructed, equipped and maintained to meet State Board of Health requirements and applicable City codes. Sec. 10-27(b) then requires any such pool, hot tub or spa capable of a side wall height greater than 30 inches to be enclosed by a fence or wall at least four feet high, built and designed so it cannot be climbed through, over or under; chain-link sections must use at least 13-gauge corrosion-resistant wire with decay- and corrosion-resistant posts set in concrete bases, and entry must be through a gate or door of the same height and construction, kept closed and securely locked whenever adequate supervision is not present inside the enclosure.

The rule reaches both permanent and temporary outdoor pools. Three enclosure exceptions apply: a spa or hot tub with a locking cover meeting ASTM F1346 that stays locked when not in use does not need the four-foot fence; an aboveground pool with side walls over four feet that has a rail at least 12 inches above the pool's top and a secured, lockable entry (a lockable deck gate or lockable ladder) is also excepted; and non-pool structures such as koi ponds are excepted entirely. These enclosure standards apply on top of the siting rules in Sec. 10-27(b)(1), which keep pools and equipment at least eight feet from side or rear property lines and 30 feet from any street-facing property line.