Chittenden County, VT Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

Vermont counties have no building-code authority. Statewide, the Vermont Fire and Building Safety Code (Vt. Fire & Building Safety Code) is adopted under 20 V.S.A. §2731 and §2736 by the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety. The code incorporates the IRC Appendix G/ISPSC, which sets the operative pool-barrier standard for one- and two-family dwellings. Required standards for residential pools (more than 24 inches deep): (1) barrier at least 48 inches high measured on the side facing away from the pool; (2) maximum 2-inch clearance between the bottom of the barrier and grade on a solid surface, 4-inch on grass/non-solid; (3) openings cannot allow passage of a 4-inch sphere; (4) horizontal members spaced less than 45 inches apart trigger a 1.75-inch maximum vertical-member spacing; (5) chain link mesh maximum 1.25-inch square; (6) gates self-closing and self-latching, opening outward away from the pool, with the latch release at least 54 inches above grade if mounted on the pool side. Where a dwelling wall serves as part of the barrier, doors leading to the pool must have an alarm or the pool must have a powered safety cover meeting ASTM F1346. Building permits are issued by individual Chittenden County towns: Burlington, South Burlington, Williston, Essex, and Colchester each operate their own building inspection departments that enforce the state code locally. Vermont does not preempt towns from adopting stricter standards.