Tuscaloosa, AL Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

Tuscaloosa imposes one of the more specific local pool barrier rules in Alabama through Sec. 25-107.x of its Zoning Ordinance (effective January 1, 2025). It states that any permanently constructed swimming pool, or any temporary or inflatable pool which can be filled to a depth greater than 18 inches, shall be enclosed by a fence or wall meeting these standards: (i) the fence or wall shall extend from the surface to a height of at least six feet; (ii) basketweave, split rail, and other decorative fences which can be easily scaled by a child are prohibited, and any braces or frames that could afford a child footholds or handholds shall be on the pool side; (iii) a self-closing and self-latching gate or door, with the mechanism out of reach of children, shall be used; and (iv) for multifamily dwellings, no door or window may be incorporated into the pool enclosure unless it contains features such as a window barrier to prevent access. This six-foot city standard is stricter than the model-code minimum. Because Tuscaloosa also enforces the 2021 International Residential Code, the building-code barrier provisions (a minimum 48-inch barrier, openings that reject a 4-inch sphere, and the option of an ASTM F1346 listed safety cover for spas) apply as the construction baseline, while the zoning ordinance's six-foot enclosure is the controlling local height.