Middlesex County, MA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing Requirements (2026)

Massachusetts counties — including Middlesex — do not regulate residential pool fencing. The applicable rules come from two state sources. First, the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), 10th Edition, adopts IRC Appendix G (Section AG105) for private residential pools, hot tubs, and spas with water depth of 24 inches or more. Second, 105 CMR 435 (State Sanitary Code Chapter V, Department of Public Health) sets sanitary standards primarily for semi-public/public pools. Under AG105.2, the barrier must be at least 48 inches above finished ground level on the side facing away from the pool, with no more than a 2-inch vertical gap at the bottom. Openings must not allow passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere. Where horizontal members are spaced less than 45 inches apart, vertical members may not be spaced more than 1.75 inches apart; where horizontals are 45+ inches apart, vertical spacing may not exceed 4 inches. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching; if the latch release is less than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate, the release must be on the pool side at least 3 inches below the top of the gate, and there can be no opening larger than 0.5 inch within 18 inches of the release. Where a wall of the dwelling forms part of the barrier, doors with direct pool access must have an audible alarm sounding for at least 30 seconds, or a self-closing/self-latching device meeting AG105 specs. Building permits for pool barriers are issued by the local town building department in each of Middlesex County's 54 cities and towns (Cambridge, Lowell, Newton, Somerville, Framingham, etc.).