Anne Arundel County requires a building permit for any residential swimming pool and a compliant pool barrier under the Anne Arundel County Building Code, which adopts the International Residential Code (IRC) Appendix G. The barrier must be at least 4 feet (48 inches) tall, with no more than a 2-inch gap at the bottom, picket gaps no more than 4 inches wide, and self-closing/self-latching gates that open outward away from the pool.
The Anne Arundel County Building Code (Article 15, Title 1) adopts IRC Appendix G (Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs) as the standard for residential pool barriers. Owners must obtain a building permit from the Anne Arundel County Permit Center before installing a pool, pool deck, fence, or barrier — corner lots, waterfront properties, and new pool installations always require a county permit. Specific barrier requirements include: minimum 48-inch height; maximum 2-inch ground-to-bottom-of-fence gap; vertical picket gaps no greater than 4 inches; chain-link mesh size no larger than 2-1/4 inches square (or 1-3/4 inches with slats); pedestrian access gates that open outward away from the pool and are self-closing/self-latching with a release mechanism at least 54 inches above the bottom of the gate. Pool decks must comply with the IRC structural and railing standards and may require separate deck permits when over 30 inches above grade.
Constructing a pool, deck, or barrier without a permit is a violation of the Anne Arundel County Code subject to a stop-work order and fines up to $1,000 per day per Article 15-1-1106. Inadequate pool barriers can also trigger nuisance abatement and civil liability for any drowning incident.
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