Caldwell, ID Swimming Pools & Spas: Safety Rules (2026)

Caldwell does not write its own detailed pool-safety ordinance; it relies on its adopted building code. City Code 12-01-01 adopts the 2018 International Residential Code parts I through VI and IX, including Appendix G, which contains the residential safety standards for swimming pools, spas and hot tubs. Under that appendix, a residential pool must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with no openings a 4-inch sphere can pass through; gates must be self-closing and self-latching; and where a wall of the dwelling forms part of the barrier, the code requires additional protection such as door alarms or self-closing/self-latching doors giving access to the pool. On the zoning side, City Code 10-12-03-1(3)C requires all pools to be set back ten feet (10') from every property line and states that barriers 'shall be provided and regulated under the adopted building codes.' City Code 12-01-01(2) adds that where the city code and the adopted codes differ, the more restrictive requirement applies. Because these safety features are enforced through the building permit and inspection, homeowners should confirm current door-alarm, gate, and barrier details with the Caldwell Building Safety Division when planning a pool or spa. Caldwell honestly defers most pool-safety specifics to the state-adopted building code rather than duplicating them in the municipal code.