Deschutes County, OR Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

Deschutes County's Community Development Department, Building Safety Division, enforces the Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC), which adopts and amends the International Residential Code. ORSC Appendix G applies to outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas serving one- and two-family dwellings: barriers must have a top at least 48 inches above grade measured on the side facing away from the pool; the maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier is 2 inches on that side; openings may not allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere; spacing between vertical members cannot exceed 1.75 inches when horizontal members are less than 45 inches apart, or 4 inches when 45 inches or more apart; and pedestrian access gates must open outward away from the pool and be self-closing and self-latching, with the release mechanism located at least 3 inches below the top of the gate when below 54 inches. Deschutes County's published fences handout directs property owners to comply with either the ORSC or, for public pools, the Oregon Health Authority rules under OAR Chapter 333, Division 60. OAR 333-060-0105 governs public, semi-public, and HOA pool enclosures: fences must be not less than four feet (1.2 m) in height measured from outside ground level, vertical-section spacing cannot exceed four inches (100 mm), and the gap between the bottom of the enclosure and the ground may not exceed four inches. Gates and doors must be self-closing and equipped with a lockable self-latching device, with the operating control at least 42 inches above the exterior ground surface or pool deck. Building permits for residential pools are issued by Deschutes County Community Development; public pool licensing and plan review are handled by the Oregon Health Authority and the Deschutes County Health Services Environmental Health program.