A pool gets used half the year in Sacramento, and there are a great many of them, from Arden Park to Elk Grove to Folsom. California's Swimming Pool Safety Act says what a pool enclosure must be. Health and Safety Code section 115923 calls for a minimum height of 60 inches, no more than 2 inches between the ground and the bottom, no gap that passes a 4-inch sphere, and an outside face with nothing a child under five could climb.
The gate is where most pool fences pass or fail. Under the same section it has to open away from the pool, close on its own and latch on its own, and the latch must sit at least 60 inches above the ground. Section 115922 requires at least two of seven listed safety features when a permit is issued to build or remodel a pool at a single-family home, and an enclosure that separates the pool from the house is one of the seven. Your city or county building inspector decides what passes and may ask for more.
We build pool barriers in aluminum, ornamental steel, vinyl and chain link. The yard fence can sometimes serve as part of the barrier if it meets the same measurements, which is worth checking before you pay for a second fence. Soil settles and sprinklers wash out the dirt under a bottom rail, so a fence that passed years ago can have a 4-inch gap today. We measure that on the visit.
Pool fences in Sacramento: common questions
How tall does a pool fence have to be in Sacramento?
At least 60 inches under California Health and Safety Code section 115923. The local building department inspects the barrier and can add its own requirements, so we check with the city or county that issued your pool permit.
Can my existing back yard fence count as the pool barrier?
Sometimes. It has to meet the height, the 2-inch bottom clearance, the 4-inch gap limit and the no-climb rule on its outside face, and every gate must self-close and self-latch. A board fence with rails on the outside often fails the climbing test. The inspector makes the final call.
Which way must a pool gate open?
Away from the pool. State law also requires it to close and latch by itself, with the latch placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We visit, measure and talk through options.
- Written quote: Clear pricing with material choices side by side.
- Permits & planning: We check local rules and help with permits before we dig.
- Install & clean-up: Our crew installs, cleans up and walks the finished fence with you.