Rowlett, TX Swimming Pools & Spas: Safety Rules (2026)

Rowlett's pool safety requirements draw from three layers. First, Code Sec. 78-311 requires a temporary fence installed at the start of excavation and a permanent enclosing barrier; where only a spa or hot tub exists, the owner may instead use a sturdy cover with latching devices. Second, the city has adopted the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and 2021 International Residential Code, whose barrier and entrapment provisions apply. Third, the city's inspection handout details safety measures verified before the pool final: at least one GFCI-protected receptacle between 6 and 20 feet from the pool edge; all pool lights (except fiber-optic) GFCI-protected; electrical bonding with a #8 AWG bond conductor and a minimum of four evenly spaced ground clamps; and safety glazing for all windows within five feet of the water's edge. Pools on city sewer must have a P-trap and backwash line connected to the sewer. During construction, a temporary fence at least 36 inches high must completely surround the pool at all times; if an inspector finds the temporary fence incomplete, the pool company faces a reinspection fee and citations. State law (Ch. 757) adds enclosure standards for multi-occupancy pools but defers single-family backyard safety largely to local code.