Ramsey County, MN Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Minn. R. 4717.1550 is the Minnesota Department of Health rule on access to public pools, and subpart 2 sets the fence itself. Subpart 1 states the purpose: access to a public pool must be controlled to effectively prevent the entrance of children. Where a fence is the control, it must meet subparts 2 to 6, with one carve-out for pools inside a building or enclosure.

Under subpart 2, an outdoor pool fence must be at least five feet high. Its gates must be self-closing and self-latching and capable of being locked. No opening in the fence can be wider than four inches, and no opening below the fence can be taller than two inches. The fence also must not be a readily climbable design. The rule prints no list of banned designs, so a fence that a child can use as a ladder fails on that line alone.

Subpart 3 treats older fences differently. Fencing in existence before January 4, 1995, that is shorter than five feet must be no less than four feet high, keep the self-closing, self-latching, lockable gates, hold openings to four inches, and avoid a climbable design. That list has no two-inch bottom gap item.

Three more subparts cover details. Wading pool enclosures need fencing at least 42 inches high for existing installations and 48 inches for new ones (subpart 4). New chain link fencing under eight feet high cannot exceed 1-1/2 inch mesh, and new chain link eight feet or higher cannot exceed two-inch mesh (subpart 5). Latches on new installations sit four feet above the ground (subpart 6).

Pools inside a building or enclosure follow subpart 1, item B instead: a separate room with self-latching doors, or fencing or a comparable barrier at least four feet high with self-closing, self-latching doors or gates. Poolside guest rooms, corridors adjacent to them, and poolside activity areas can sit inside the pool enclosure.