Olympia, WA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

The pool fencing statement printed in OMC § 4.36.010 sits in the fee table. Under the Swimming Pools lines, a footnote reads: all pools over 24 inches in depth require approved fencing. The City of Olympia, Washington applies the trigger by depth, and the footnote says all pools, so it does not split in-ground pools from above ground pools. The footnote prints no fence height, no gate latch standard, and no self-closing standard, and it does not name who approves the fence.

The installation standard comes through adoption. OMC § 16.04.020 adopts the current State adopted edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., for regulating the installation of pools and spas, including the ANSI/APSP/ICC-7 Standards for Suction Entrapment Avoidance. That code is adopted by reference rather than reprinted in the Olympia Municipal Code, so the barrier dimensions sit in the adopted edition and not in the city text.

Because the fencing note rides on the pool permit schedule, it travels with the permit. The schedule charges $145.99 for each in-ground swimming pool or spa and $72.99 for each above ground swimming pool over 5000 gallons, and under subsection B a permit is not valid until the fees prescribed by law have been paid. Plan review is a separate fee paid when submittal documents are filed.

Enforcement runs through the building official and the uniform civil enforcement chapter. OMC § 4.44.020 names the Building Official and the Fire Marshal among the Code Enforcement Officials, and the notice of violation form in § 4.44.030 sets compliance windows from twenty-four hours to fourteen days depending on the nature of the violation. A compliance agreement can add two weeks depending on public health and safety, except where immediate action is required.