Nash County, NC Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Section 11-4.75 of the Unified Development Ordinance covers swimming pools on private property controlled by a homeowner and limited to family and invited guests. Under (A) Where Required, the section applies in all residential, OI and commercial districts. Under (B) Use Separation, a pool must meet the district's minimum setback for accessory structures, and a pool that is not an integral part of the principal building must sit at least 5 feet from the building, porches and above-grade decking, measured to the edge of the pool water; steps may encroach into that separation distance under UDO Section 9-6.3(B)(1).

Under (C) Security Fencing, the ordinance requires that 'swimming pools located outdoors shall be protected by a fence,' cross-referencing the Article II swimming pool barrier definition for the fencing standard itself. The same fencing duty applies to pools built as part of an approved subdivision's swim and tennis club amenities under Section 11-4.74(a)(G), which likewise requires an outdoor pool to be protected by a fence and made subject to state and local public swimming pool regulations. Gross square footage for a pool, for sizing and setback purposes, is measured as the total of the pool plus any decking or aprons built as part of it (Sec. 11-4.75(B)(3)).