Medina, OH Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger depth
- Pools with 3+ ft of water
- Fence height
- 4 ft minimum, 6 ft maximum
- Max gap
- 3 inches at bottom or any opening
- Locks
- Required on all pool fence gates
- Above-ground exception
- Fencing only where 4+ ft walls are accessible
Summary
Any swimming, wading, or other pool holding three feet or more of water in Medina must be enclosed by a fence under Codified Ordinances § 1155.01(f). The fence must deny access to animals and uninvited people, stand four to six feet tall, and carry locks.
(2) Fences Required. The owners and/or operators of any swimming pool located within the City shall construct and maintain fences of such type and description that will effectively deny ingress to animals and persons not specifically admitted to such swimming pools by the owner or operator thereof. (3) Fence Specifications. Fences referred to in subsection (b) hereof shall be constructed so that not more than three (3) inches of open space exists between the bottom of the fencing material and the ground measured vertically and shall have not more than three (3) inches of clear opening in any dimension except for doors or gates. Such fencing shall be not less than four (4) feet in height, and not more than six (6) feet in height. Exception: Aboveground pools having side walls of four (4) feet or more in height from the finished grade shall be required to have fencing and gates only where access to the pool may be had. (4) Locks Required. Fences shall be equipped with locks so as to comply with the intent as specified in subsection (b) hereof.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025-01: Local legislation current through June 24, 2025 | State legislation current through December 31, 2024).
Full Breakdown
01(f), "Specific Fencing Regulations," treats pool fencing as a safety requirement, not a design choice. 01(f)(2), the owner or operator of any swimming pool in the city, public or private, must construct and maintain a fence that will effectively deny ingress to animals and persons not specifically admitted by the owner or operator. 01(f)(3) sets the physical specifications: the fence cannot leave more than three inches of open space between its bottom rail and the ground, and no opening in the fencing, other than at a door or gate, may exceed three inches in any dimension.
The fence itself must be at least four feet tall and no more than six feet tall. Above-ground pools get a narrow exception: if the pool's own side walls already stand four feet or higher above finished grade, the owner only needs fencing and gates at the points where someone could actually climb up and get to the water. 01(f)(4) requires the fence to carry locks sufficient to carry out the access-control intent of the section. 01(g).
Violations & Fines
Swimming pool fencing sits under the Zoning Ordinance's supplemental regulations, so a missing or noncompliant pool fence is enforced as a zoning violation under § 1103.99: $150 to $500 for a first offense, $250 to $750 for a repeat offense, and $500 to $1,000 for a third or later offense, with each day the fence remains out of compliance counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my backyard pool need a fence in Medina?
How tall does the pool fence have to be?
Does an above-ground pool need a separate fence?
Do pool gates need to lock?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medina
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