Anderson Municipal Code Ch. 8.56 Swimming Pools

A. No person shall construct, use, permit, maintain, operate or control any swimming pool, fish pond or other body of water eighteen or more inches in depth on any land owned by them or under their possession or control, without creating and maintaining a barrier to make such body of water inaccessible to small children. The barrier, including all gates, shall be installed, inspected and approved prior to plastering or filling with water. The barrier shall comply with the following:

1. The top of the barrier shall be at least sixty inches above grade measured on the side of the barrier, which faces away from the swimming pool.

2. A maximum vertical clearance from grade to the bottom of the barrier of two inches.

3. No gaps or voids which will allow passage of a sphere equal to or greater than four inches.

4. The outside surface of the barrier shall be nonclimbable and free of gaps or voids or other physical characteristics that would serve as handholds or footholds.

5. Access gates in the barrier shall comply with the requirements of Subsections (A)(1)—(4) of this section. Access gates shall open away from the swimming pool, and be self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than sixty inches from grade. Any gates other than pedestrian access gates shall be equipped with a lockable hardware or padlocks and shall remain locked at all times when the pool is not in use.

6. With regard to such pools, ponds, or other bodies of water constructed on and after January 1, 1998, where a wall of a Group R, Division 3 Occupancy dwelling unit serves as part of the barrier and contains door openings with direct access to the swimming pool, the door shall be provided with either: an exit alarm with an audible, continuous alarm sound when any door is open; or the doors providing direct access to the pool are equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than fifty-four inches above the floor.

B. This chapter does not require fencing of any body of water which is part of or formed by the Sacramento River, any natural watercourse, any storm drain facility, or any irrigation canal.

(Ord. 670 § 1, 1997; Ord. 424 § 1 (part), 1979)

The building official may permit other protective devices or structures to be used so long as the degree of protection afforded by the substitute devices or structures is not less than the protection afforded by the fence as required by this chapter. The building official may determine that, as a substitute device or structure, swimming pools or hot tubs may be protected by an approved, locking safety cover that meets all of the performance standards of the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), in compliance with standards F1346-91.

(Ord. 670 § 3, 1998; Ord. 424 § 1 (part), 1979)

Swimming pools in any "R" or "PD" district shall not be constructed within fifty feet of the front property line. These requirements shall not apply to indoor swimming pools. When constructed after January 1, 1998, filtering systems and heating equipment for all pools shall not be located closer than thirty (30) feet to any adjacent dwelling or shall be enclosed or housed to attenuate noise levels on abutting properties to within the limits allowed in Table 7-1 of the code.

(Ord. 670 § 4, 1998; Ord. 424 § 1 (part), 1979)