National City, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Section 15.22.045 of the National City Municipal Code rewrites Section 3109.4.1 of the Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code. It applies to outdoor pools, including in-ground, aboveground and on-ground pools, hot tubs and spas. Under Section 15.22.040 a swimming pool is any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 18 inches deep, and that includes portable spas and nonportable wading pools.

The barrier top must be at least 60 inches above grade, measured on the side facing away from the pool, and must withstand the forces in the Uniform Building Code. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier is 2 inches measured to a hard surface such as concrete. For an aboveground pool with the barrier on top of the pool structure, the clearance is 4 inches. Openings cannot pass a 4-inch diameter sphere, solid barriers cannot have indentations or protrusions except tooled masonry joints, and chain link mesh cannot exceed a 1¾-inch square in wire not lighter than 11½ gauge. Where horizontal member tops are less than 45 inches apart and vertical members have decorative cutouts, cutout spacing cannot exceed 2 inches and vertical member spacing cannot exceed 4 inches.

Access gates must meet the same standards and accommodate a locking device no less than 54 inches above grade. Pedestrian gates open outward away from the pool and are self-closing with a self-latching device. Where a dwelling wall is part of the barrier, doors to the pool need an alarm sounding continuously for a minimum of 30 seconds within 7 seconds of opening, at not less than 85 DBA measured indoors at 10 feet. The alarm can be deactivated for a single opening for no more than 15 seconds, using a switch at least 54 inches above the door threshold. Ladders or steps on aboveground pools must be secured, locked, removed or enclosed. Outdoor hot tubs and spas not exceeding 64 square feet can use a rigid cover with a permanent locking and latching device in place of a barrier. The administrative authority can grant modifications where unusual circumstances make strict enforcement impractical.