Parma, OH Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Codified Ordinances § 660.16
- Trigger depth
- Over 18 inches of water
- Minimum fence height
- 3.5 feet, Building Commissioner-approved
- Exemption
- Aboveground pool walls 3.5+ feet tall
- Drain requirement
- 6 inches below top edge, to storm sewer
- Base penalty
- Minor misdemeanor, up to $150 fine
Summary
Any Parma pool, fish pond or similar structure over 18 inches deep on a lot under half an acre must be surrounded by dense shrubbery or a Building Commissioner-approved fence at least three and a half feet high, with a locked gate whenever no responsible adult is present. Aboveground pools with walls that tall are exempt from the fence rule itself.
The owner of any property containing less than one-half acre, upon which there is located a swimming pool, fish pond or other similar structure containing water over eighteen inches in depth in any portion thereof, shall install such swimming pool, fish pond or other structure in accordance with the following distances from the property lines of the lot on which it is located... The owner shall protect such swimming pool, fish pond or other similar structure by completely surrounding it with either shrubbery of sufficient density to prevent ingress and egress, or a fence approved by the Building Commissioner, at least three and one-half feet high. Any gate entrance to a required fence shall be kept locked with a suitable lock at all times when the pool, pond or other similar structure is not protected by the presence of a responsible adult person.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-30: Local legislation current to August 3, 2026 | State legislation current to June 25, 2025).
Full Breakdown
16(a) requires the owner of a swimming pool, fish pond or similar structure holding water over 18 inches deep, on a lot smaller than half an acre, to enclose it with shrubbery dense enough to block ingress and egress or with a fence approved by the Building Commissioner, at least three and one-half feet high. Any gate must be kept locked whenever the pool is not being watched by a responsible adult, and a ladder on an aboveground pool must be removed or made inaccessible to children when the pool is unsupervised.
Subsection (b) exempts aboveground pools whose wall height is already three and a half feet or more from the fencing requirement. Subsection (c) adds a drainage rule: the structure must connect to a drain at least six inches below its top edge, tied into the storm sewer system. Small manually-erected pools no more than six feet in diameter and one foot deep are exempt under subsection (d), but cannot sit within three feet of a rear or side lot line without the written consent of every property owner within a ten-foot radius.
Subsection (e) requires all pools to drain to the nearest sewer line and portable pools to be drained or securely covered when not in use, with complaints investigated by the Building Commissioner, who may issue a written reprimand.
Violations & Fines
Violating subsections (a) through (e), including the fencing, locked-gate and draining rules, is a minor misdemeanor under Section 660.16(g), capped at a $150 fine with no jail time under Section 698.02. Anyone who ignores a written reprimand from the Building Commissioner over a subsection (f) variance issue instead faces a fourth-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all backyard pools in Parma need a fence?
Can I use a hedge instead of a fence around my Parma pool?
What happens if I do not drain my pool as required?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Parma
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