Wyandotte County, KS Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

2 of the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code, as amended by Sec. 8-432, requires private swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas capable of holding water more than 24 inches deep to be completely surrounded by a fence or barrier at least 72 inches high, measured on the side of the barrier facing away from the pool. Gates and doors in that barrier must be self-closing and self-latching; if the latch release sits lower than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism has to be located on the pool side of the gate so a small child on the outside cannot reach it.

The gate must positively close and latch on its own even when released just six inches open from the gatepost, a specific mechanical test built into the ordinance. The code also bars removing, replacing, or altering an existing pool enclosure in any way that reduces its effectiveness as a safety barrier, meaning a homeowner cannot swap in a shorter or gapped fence later. The public officer designated under Sec. 8-432(b) enforces this barrier standard alongside the rest of the Property Maintenance Code.