Scranton, PA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Section 445-33 sets Scranton's pool safety and placement standards. Subsection A triggers the fencing duty at a specific size: any outdoor swimming pool or water impoundment at least 18 inches deep with a surface area of 72 square feet or more must be properly fenced so it does not become a hazard, meaning above-ground pools and even large ornamental ponds can be covered, not just in-ground pools. The fence or wall has to reach at least four feet above the ground, no gap in the fence or wall can be wider than two inches, and every gate has to close with a self-catching latch, so a gate that swings shut but can be pushed back open without a positive catch does not satisfy the section.

Subsection B requires the pool itself to be built to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. Subsection C adds siting limits: no part of an outdoor pool may sit in a front yard setback area, and no part of the pool can come within 10 feet of a side or rear lot line, keeping pools clustered toward the interior of the lot and away from neighboring properties.