Jonesboro, AR Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Sec. 105-230(a) requires every outdoor pool or family pool to be completely surrounded by a fence or barrier of non-climbable construction, standing not less than four feet above finished ground level measured on the side away from the pool. The barrier cannot have openings, holes, or gaps larger than two inches in any horizontal dimension or four inches vertically, except at doors and gates, and a picket fence's horizontal gaps cannot exceed two inches. A dwelling house or accessory building may serve as part of the enclosure.

Subsection (b) requires every gate or door opening through the enclosure to carry a self-closing and self-latching device that keeps it securely closed whenever not in actual use; a dwelling's own door counts as exempt if it forms part of the enclosure. The rule applies to every new outdoor pool built after the ordinance and to all existing outdoor pools, per subsection (c); only indoor pools are excluded. The code enforcement officer can modify the barrier requirements case by case for existing pools on a showing of good cause, or approve a substitute protective device or structure, but only if the substitute affords no less protection than the described fence, gate, and latch, under subsections (d) and (e).