Adams County, CO Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Swimming Pool and Spa Code § 305.1
- Cover exception standard
- ASTM F1346 powered or lockable cover
- Detailed barrier sections
- §§ 305.2 through 305.7
- Governing ordinance
- Ordinance No. 12, effective July 1, 2026
- Maximum fine
- $1,000 per violation, per day
Summary
Unincorporated Adams County requires a barrier restricting entry to any pool or spa area under Section 305.1 of the county's Swimming Pool and Spa Code. A pool or spa with a powered or lockable safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is excused from the detailed barrier design rules in Sections 305.2 through 305.7.
305.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply to the design of barriers for restricting entry into areas having pools and spas. Where spas or hot tubs are equipped with a lockable safety cover complying with ASTM F1346 and swimming pools are equipped with a powered safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346, the areas where those spas or hot tubs or pools are located shall not be required to comply with Sections 305.2 through 305.7.
Full Breakdown
1 of the Swimming Pool and Spa Code of Adams County, adopted under Ordinance No. 12 effective July 1, 2026, states that the provisions of the section apply to the design of barriers for restricting entry into areas having pools and spas. That means every pool and spa in unincorporated Adams County needs a compliant barrier, whether a fence, wall or enclosure, sized and built to the specifications the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code sets out in the sections that follow. 7, the sections that otherwise dictate fence height, gate self-closing and self-latching hardware, and opening-size limits for a physical barrier.
In practice, a homeowner has two compliant paths: build the standard perimeter barrier the ISPSC's detailed sections require, or install an ASTM F1346-rated cover instead of a fence. 1.
Violations & Fines
A pool or spa built without a compliant Section 305.1 barrier, or without a qualifying ASTM F1346 safety cover, is a violation of Ordinance No. 12 subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per separate violation under C.R.S. § 30-28-409, with each day the pool remains unbarriered treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a fence around my pool in unincorporated Adams County?
What kind of cover lets me skip building a pool fence?
Which sections set the actual fence height and gate requirements?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Adams County
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