Troy, MI Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

" Gates and doors in the barrier must be self-closing and self-latching. The release mechanism for the latch must sit on the pool side of the gate whenever the latch itself is mounted lower than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate, preventing a small child from reaching over to release it from outside. The gate hardware must be maintained so it will positively close and latch when released from as little as six inches open. The section also bars any change to an existing enclosure that reduces its effectiveness as a safety barrier, meaning an owner cannot remove or modify a compliant fence even temporarily without maintaining equivalent protection.

One exception applies: a spa or hot tub fitted with a safety cover that meets ASTM F 1346 is exempt from the fencing requirement entirely, since the cover itself serves as the barrier. 2 requires premises to be graded to prevent stagnant water from accumulating in garden pools and swimming pools alike.