Lauderhill, FL Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Section 5.40.3 of the Land Development Regulations requires every swimming pool that is a residential accessory use to meet at least one of three safety options: an enclosure meeting the barrier standard in Section 5.40.4, an approved safety pool cover meeting ASTM standard F1346-91, or a self-closing, self-latching door alarm device on every door leading from the home to the pool, with the release mechanism no lower than 54 inches above the floor. Section 5.40.4 spells out the barrier itself: it must stand at least four feet high on the outside, and it may not have gaps, openings, indentations, protrusions, or structural components that would let a young child, defined in Section 5.40.2 as anyone under six, crawl under, squeeze through, or climb over it.

The barrier must run around the pool's perimeter separately from any yard fence unless that fence itself meets the same barrier requirements. Gates providing pool access must open outward, away from the water, and be self-closing with a self-latching device whose release mechanism sits on the pool side of the gate, out of a young child's reach. An above-ground pool's own structure can serve as its barrier, but any ladder or steps must be capable of being secured, locked, or removed. Pools that are a principal use, such as those run by a homeowners association or civic organization, face a stricter standard under Section 5.40.3.A: a six-foot enclosure with access primarily through an interior clubhouse or shower facility, and any exterior gate latch placed at least four feet above the ground.