Peoria, IL Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

Peoria's pool fencing standard is IPMC Section 303.2 (Enclosures), adopted through Chapter 5 (Buildings) of the City Code of Ordinances. The standard applies to any private swimming pool, hot tub, or spa containing water more than 24 inches deep. The barrier must completely enclose the pool. Minimum barrier height is 60 inches (5 feet) measured on the side of the barrier away from the pool. The maximum vertical clearance between the ground or finished surface and the bottom of the barrier is 2 inches. Solid barriers cannot contain indentations or protrusions, and where the barrier is comprised of horizontal and vertical members, openings cannot allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere (the standard child-head test); where the barrier is chain link, mesh size cannot exceed 1-3/4 inches square unless slats are used to reduce openings to 1-3/4 inches. Gates must open outward away from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and where the release mechanism is on the pool side, the latch must be at least 54 inches above the bottom of the gate. The dwelling wall may serve as part of the barrier provided that doors with direct access to the pool area are equipped with alarms or self-closing/self-latching hardware. Existing enclosures may not be modified to reduce safety effectiveness. Code Enforcement (309-494-8600) inspects in response to complaints and during property maintenance reviews. Note Peoria's 60-inch standard is stricter than IRC Appendix G's 48-inch minimum used in many other cities.