Leon County, FL Swimming Pools & Spas: Safety Rules (2026)

Leon County enforces state pool-safety law rather than imposing its own numerical safety standards. Under the Preston de Ibern/McKenzie Merriam Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (Florida Statutes Chapter 515, Part II, ss. 515.21–515.37), a residential swimming pool is generally a structure intended for swimming or bathing with water more than 24 inches deep (s. 515.25), and a 'young child' is a person under age 6. Section 515.27 requires that a new residential pool be equipped with at least ONE of these features: (1) an enclosure/barrier meeting s. 515.29 (the 4-foot barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates); (2) an approved safety pool cover; (3) exit alarms on all doors and windows with direct pool access, with a minimum sound rating of 85 dB at 10 feet; (4) self-closing, self-latching devices on all doors with direct pool access, with the release mechanism at least 54 inches above the floor; or (5) a pool alarm certified to ASTM Standard F2208 ('Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms'). These same options are reflected in the Florida Building Code, Residential, Chapter 45. Failure to equip a pool is a second-degree misdemeanor under s. 515.27, but the penalty is waived if the owner installs a compliant feature within 45 days and attends an available drowning-prevention education program. Confirm which edition and any local amendments apply with Leon County DSEM.