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Tulare County · Building on your lot

Swimming pools in Tulare County

County rule: pool barriers must be at least 60 inches above grade, measured on the side away from the pool. County rule: barrier openings must not let a 4-inch sphere pass; chain-link mesh is limited to 2-inch squares. County rule: pedestrian gates must open outward from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and accept a locking device. County rule: the pool barrier must be built before the plaster inspection.

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Key points

  • Barrier height: County rule: pool barriers must be at least 60 inches above grade, measured on the side away from the pool.
  • Openings: County rule: barrier openings must not let a 4-inch sphere pass; chain-link mesh is limited to 2-inch squares.
  • Gates: County rule: pedestrian gates must open outward from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and accept a locking device.
  • Build timing: County rule: the pool barrier must be built before the plaster inspection.

Each rule below links to the section of the Tulare County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Tulare County's code says

Tulare County code What Tulare County's code adds
Pool barrier
  • No more than 2 inches of clearance between the ground and the bottom of the barrier.
    Applies: Applies to barriers at ground level, measured on the side away from the pool.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be 2 inches measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool.
  • No more than 4 inches between the top of the pool and the bottom of the barrier.
    Applies: Applies to a barrier mounted on top of an aboveground pool.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum vertical clearance between the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier shall be 4 inches.
  • The barrier must withstand at least 10 pounds per lineal foot.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    Barriers shall be constructed so as to withstand a minimum of 10 pounds per lineal foot.
  • Openings must not let a 4-inch ball pass through.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    Openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere.
  • Solid barriers may have no indentations or protrusions, except tooled masonry joints.
    Applies: Applies to solid barriers without openings, such as masonry or stone walls.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    Solid barriers which do not have openings, such as masonry or stone walls, shall not contain indentations or protrusions except for tooled masonry joints.
  • Spacing within decorative cutouts may not exceed 2 inches.
    Applies: Applies to cutouts in vertical members when horizontal-member tops are less than 45 inches apart.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 2 inches in width.
  • Spacing between vertical members may not exceed 4 inches.
    Applies: Applies when horizontal-member tops are 45 inches or more apart.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is 45 inches or more, spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 4 inches.
  • Spacing within decorative cutouts may not exceed 3/4 inch.
    Applies: Applies to cutouts in vertical members when horizontal-member tops are 45 inches or more apart.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 3/4 inches in width.
  • Chain-link mesh may not exceed 2-inch squares, unless slats reduce openings to no more than 2 inches.
    Applies: Applies to chain-link fence barriers.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    The maximum mesh size for barriers made of chain link fence shall be 2 inch square unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom which reduce the openings to no more than 2 inches.
  • Wire mesh must be no less than 13 gauge.
    Applies: Applies to chain-link fence barriers.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    The wire mesh shall not be less than 13 gauge.
  • Openings formed by diagonal members may be no more than 2 inches.
    Applies: Applies to barriers made of diagonal members.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, the maximum opening formed by the diagonal members shall be no more than 2 inches.
  • Barriers must be built before the plaster inspection.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    Barriers shall be constructed prior to plaster inspection.
  • Ladders or steps must be secured, locked, removed or surrounded by a compliant barrier; openings must block a 4-inch sphere.
    Applies: Applies when an aboveground pool is the barrier or has one on top, with ladder or step access.
    § 7-15-1633 · code text
    In addition, when the ladder or steps are secured, locked or removed, any opening created shall not allow the passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere.
Barrier height
  • At least 60 inches above grade, measured on the side away from the pool.
    § 7-15-1630 · code text
    The top of the barrier shall be at least 60 inches above grade measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool.
Gates
  • Access gates must take a lock; pedestrian gates open away from the pool, self-close and self-latch.
    § 7-15-1632 · code text
    Pedestrian-access gates shall open outward away from the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device.
  • No opening larger than 1/2 inch within 18 inches of the latch release.
    Applies: Applies when the release is less than 54 inches from the ground.
    § 7-15-1632 · code text
    The gate and barrier shall have no opening greater than 1/2 inch within 18 inches of the release mechanism.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Tulare County?

County rule: pool barriers must be at least 60 inches above grade, measured on the side away from the pool. County rule: barrier openings must not let a 4-inch sphere pass; chain-link mesh is limited to 2-inch squares. County rule: pedestrian gates must open outward from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and accept a locking device. County rule: the pool barrier must be built before the plaster inspection.

General information, not legal advice.

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Tulare County Municipal Code — full text