Youngstown, OH Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Youngstown Codified Ordinances Section 546.04(11) requires that private swimming pools, hot tubs and spas containing water more than 24 inches in depth be completely surrounded by a fence or barrier at least 48 inches in height above the finished ground level, measured on the side of the barrier away from the pool. Gates and doors within the barrier must be self-closing and self-latching. Where the self-latching device sits less than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism must be located on the pool side of the gate, keeping small children from reaching it from outside.

The self-closing and self-latching hardware must be maintained so the gate positively closes and latches when released from an open position just 6 inches from the gatepost, a specific functional test the Code Official can apply during an inspection. The section further bars removing, replacing or altering any existing pool enclosure in a way that reduces its effectiveness as a safety barrier, so a homeowner cannot swap in a shorter fence or a gate without a self-latch even on an older, previously compliant pool. This rule sits inside Chapter 546, the City's Property Maintenance Code, so it is enforced the same way as other exterior property violations: the Code Official or a designee may inspect the exterior without consent, cite the specific paragraph violated, and issue a written Notice of Violation under Section 546.06 with a compliance deadline and appeal rights to the Property Maintenance Appeals Board under Section 546.09.