Under the statewide Michigan Residential Code (adopting the 2015 pool/spa code), any outdoor pool, spa, or hot tub must be surrounded by a barrier at least 48 inches tall. Ground clearance cannot exceed 2 inches, and openings must not pass a 4-inch sphere.
Washtenaw County does not set residential fence rules; Michigan's Residential Code applies statewide and is enforced by your local building department. Every outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, or spa must have a barrier (fence or wall). Measured on the side facing away from the pool, the barrier must be at least 48 inches above grade, with no more than a 2-inch gap at the bottom. Openings must be too small to pass a 4-inch sphere; chain-link mesh openings max out at 1.75 inches. Solid walls cannot have footholds. Barriers must be in place before water is added. Individual cities and townships may add stricter local fence height or setback rules.
Failure to provide a compliant barrier is a building-code violation; the local building department can deny final approval, order corrections, and withhold occupancy or use of the pool until fixed.
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See how Washtenaw County's fencing requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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