Westminster, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

The City of Westminster states that pools and spas must be fenced and secured with approved materials and maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition. The City does not publish its own numeric barrier dimensions in a standalone pool ordinance; instead it enforces the statewide Swimming Pool Safety Act through the building codes adopted in Title 15. Under Health and Safety Code section 115922, a new pool or spa at a single-family home (or one undergoing permitted remodeling) must be equipped with at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention safety features. One option is an enclosure that isolates the pool from the home and meets Health and Safety Code section 115923. That section requires a barrier at least 60 inches high, a maximum gap of 2 inches between the ground and the bottom of the barrier, and openings that will not pass a 4-inch sphere. Gates must open away from the pool and be self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground. Other approved options include approved mesh fencing, an ASTM safety cover, exit alarms on doors, or self-closing devices on doors with direct pool access. Westminster's separate fence-height ordinance (Municipal Code section 17.300.030) limits general residential walls and fences to 6 feet, with a 3-foot maximum in front yards; pool barriers must satisfy the higher 60-inch state safety minimum.