Selma, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

The California Swimming Pool Safety Act, codified in Health and Safety Code Sections 115920 through 115929, establishes mandatory drowning prevention requirements that apply to all new swimming pool and spa construction and all remodeling of existing pools and spas at private single-family residences throughout California, including within the City of Selma. When a building permit is issued for pool construction or remodeling, the pool must be equipped with at least two of seven specified drowning prevention safety features before the Selma Building Division will grant final inspection approval.

The seven categories of approved safety features are as follows. First, an enclosure that meets the requirements of ASTM International standard F2286, which specifies fence height, spacing, material strength, and gate hardware requirements, combined with a gate that is self-closing and self-latching with the release mechanism located at least 54 inches from the ground. Second, an approved safety pool cover that meets ASTM International standard F1346, which specifies load-bearing capacity and water drainage requirements to prevent child entrapment or drowning on or under the cover.

Third, exit alarms installed on all doors and windows of the dwelling that provide direct access to the pool or spa area, which sound an audible alert when a door or window is opened while the alarm system is armed. Fourth, a self-closing, self-latching device with release mechanism located at least 54 inches from the ground on all doors providing direct access from the home to the pool area. Fifth, a removable mesh pool fence that meets ASTM F2286 standards and can be installed around the pool perimeter when the pool is not in active supervised use.

Sixth, an approved alarm system that sounds when a person or large object enters the pool water, providing immediate notification of unauthorized or unsupervised pool entry. Seventh, any other means of protection deemed acceptable by the local building code official that provides equivalent drowning prevention capability. The physical specifications for pool barrier fencing are detailed and exacting. The barrier must be at least 60 inches (5 feet) in height, measured from the finished grade on the exterior side of the barrier to the top of the barrier.

The maximum clearance between the finished grade and the bottom of the barrier must not exceed 2 inches, preventing children from crawling under the fence. Openings and gaps in the barrier must not allow the passage of a sphere larger than 4 inches in diameter, which is the standard approximation for preventing a child's head or body from passing through. The exterior surface of the barrier must be free of any protrusions, cavities, or other physical characteristics that could serve as handholds or footholds enabling a child below the age of five to climb over the barrier.

This prohibits horizontal rails on the exterior face, decorative elements that could be gripped, and any surface irregularities that facilitate climbing. Gates in pool barriers must be self-closing and self-latching, meaning they return to a closed and latched position automatically after being released. The latching mechanism must be positioned at least 54 inches above the grade on the pool side of the gate, or the gate must incorporate a locking mechanism that prevents operation by young children. The Selma Building Division conducts pool barrier inspections as part of the construction permitting process, and final approval for pool permits is contingent on satisfactory barrier compliance.