Santa Rosa, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum enclosure height
- 60 inches (5 feet)
- Maximum gap below fence
- 2 inches above ground
- Maximum opening in barrier
- Less than 4 inches (no 4-inch sphere passage)
- Gate latch height
- At least 60 inches above ground, self-closing self-latching
- Gate swing direction
- Must open away from the pool
- Required features (new pools)
- At least 2 of 7 listed in CBC Section 3109
Summary
Santa Rosa enforces California Building Code Section 3109 and Health and Safety Code Section 115921-115922. Any pool enclosure used as a drowning-prevention feature must be at least 60 inches high, have gates that open away from the pool, and be self-closing and self-latching.
ENCLOSURE: FENCE, WALL, OR OTHER BARRIER THAT ISOLATES A SWIMMING POOL FROM ACCESS TO THE RESIDENCE - AN ENCLOSURE SHALL HAVE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS: 1. ANY ACCESS GATES THROUGH THE ENCLOSURE OPEN AWAY FROM THE SWIMMING POOL, AND ARE SELF-CLOSING WITH A SELF-LATCHING DEVICE PLACED NO LOWER THAN 60 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND. 2. A MINIMUM HEIGHT OF 60 INCHES. 3. A MAXIMUM VERTICAL CLEARANCE FROM THE GROUND TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ENCLOSURE OF TWO INCHES. 4. GAPS OR VOIDS, IF ANY, DO NOT ALLOW PASSAGE OF A SPHERE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN FOUR INCHES IN DIAMETER. 5. AN OUTSIDE SURFACE FREE OF PROTRUSIONS, CAVITIES, OR OTHER PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT WOULD SERVE AS HANDHOLDS OR FOOTHOLDS THAT COULD ENABLE A CHILD BELOW THE AGE OF FIVE YEARS TO CLIMB OVER.
Full Breakdown
Santa Rosa's Building Division enforces the California Building Code Section 3109 and the Pool Safety Act (HSC Section 115921-115922) for all new and remodeled residential pools and spas. An 'enclosure' that qualifies as a drowning-prevention safety feature must have a minimum height of 60 inches, a maximum two-inch vertical clearance to the ground, gaps that block a four-inch sphere, no climbable handholds or footholds, and gates that open away from the pool with self-closing self-latching devices placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground. The enclosure is only one of seven approved safety features; a homeowner must select at least two of the seven listed in CBC Section 3109. For property-line fencing, Santa Rosa's Zoning Code allows fences up to 6 feet in interior side and rear yards plus 2 feet of lattice (Chapter 20-30).
Violations & Fines
Final building permit inspection will not be approved if the enclosure fails to meet the 60-inch height, four-inch gap, climbability, or self-closing/self-latching gate requirements. Failure to maintain functional safety features on an existing permitted pool can also trigger code-enforcement action by the City of Santa Rosa Building Division at (707) 543-3200.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall must my pool fence be in Santa Rosa?
Do I have to fence my pool if I have a safety cover?
Which gate latch direction is required?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
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