As summarized from Glendale's city code, which adopts the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code with local changes, a pool barrier must be at least 60 inches tall measured on the outside, sit at least 20 inches from the water, and have pedestrian gates that open away from the pool and close and latch on their own. Pool barriers need a building permit. Details depend on your layout.
Updated October 2026
What does the barrier itself need?
- A top at least 60 inches above grade, measured on the side away from the pool.
- At least 20 inches between the barrier and the water's edge.
- No openings a 4-inch sphere can pass and nothing on the outside a child could use to climb, under Arizona's statute.
- For chain link, openings no larger than 1¾ inches, as summarized from the city code.
What about gates?
- Pedestrian gates open outward, away from the pool.
- They must be self-closing and self-latching. State law puts the latch at least 54 inches above the ground, or on the pool side with a release near the top.
- Where double gates are the only way into the yard, one leaf is secured in place and the other self-closes and self-latches, per the summary of the city code.
Can my house be part of the barrier?
Yes, a house or other building can form part of it. But then doors and windows that open toward the pool matter, and Glendale adds extra protection requirements in some of those cases, especially when young children live there. Options typically include a separate barrier between the house and pool, a safety cover, alarmed or self-closing doors, or a pool alarm. We review your layout against the current code before designing.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. Glendale's building code exempts many fences up to 7 feet from permits, but it specifically leaves out swimming pool barriers. Plan on a permit and an inspection.
How does this compare to Arizona state law?
Arizona's pool enclosure statute, A.R.S. 36-1681, calls for a 5-foot barrier, the 4-inch rule, horizontal members at least 45 inches apart unless on the pool side, self-closing and self-latching gates, and a barrier at least 20 inches from the water. It lets cities with equal or stricter ordinances use their own, and it exempts homes where every resident is at least six. Glendale's code is what an inspector will check here.
It depends on your yard
A simple layout with a block perimeter and an iron interior fence is straightforward. It gets more involved when the house is part of the barrier, when an RV gate opens into the pool area, or when the existing fence is too short or climbable. We sort that out on the first visit. See pool barriers.
Where did this come from?
Arizona Revised Statutes 36-1681 (pool enclosures), read on the Arizona Legislature's site, October 2026; Glendale City Code Chapter 9, swimming pool and spa code amendments and work-exempt-from-permit provisions, as summarized by CityRuleLookup (checked September 2026). We could not load the city's own code library directly, so confirm requirements with Glendale's Building Safety Division. Rules change, so confirm with the city or county before you build. Treat this as general information rather than legal advice.