The Residential Pool Safety Act, Chapter 515 of Florida Statutes, requires a safety barrier around any new residential pool more than 24 inches deep “in order to pass final inspection and receive a certificate of completion." There are five different ways to achieve an approved barrier:

1)  Pool isolated from access to home by an enclosure that meets the pool barrier requirements of Florida Statute 515.29. It must be a barrier/fence surrounding the pool that is at least 4 feet high on the outside, with no openings that would allow a small child to climb the fence or squeeze through it. Any gates must swing outward (away from the pool) and have a latch that is at least 54 inches above the floor. A screen enclosure is an acceptable barrier; but, if any doors and windows from home to pool are inside the enclosure, then door and window alarms are also necessary. 

2) An approved safety pool cover.

3) Equip all doors and windows in the home that provide direct access to the pool with an exit alarm that has a minimum rating of 85 decibels at 10 feet. If no enclosure, this would include doors and windows not directly facing the pool.

4) Install a self-closing and self-latching device on all doors with direct access from the home to the pool, with a release mechanism positioned at least 54 inches above the floor. This assumes doors provide only way to access pool.

5) Install a swimming pool alarm that meets ASTM Standard F2208, which is typically a floating alarm.

    Only one barrier method is required, but you can choose to install multiple safety barriers. Also, the pool wall of an above ground pool is acceptable as a safety barrier, as long as it is at not climbable and least 4 feet high, and the ladder is removable or can be secured and locked to prevent use. For more on this, see our blog post Does an above-ground pool have to comply with code requirements for a swimming pool barrier?   

    And for the stats on child drownings in backyard pools, go to How many children drown each year in a pool or spa? 

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Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about POOL AND SPA:

• Can I install a pet/doggy door to a pool screen enclosure/cage area?

• Does an above-ground pool require a building permit? 

• What are the pros and cons of vinyl liner vs fiberglas vs concrete in-ground pools? 

• Can a pool with green, cloudy water be inspected?

• Should I refinish-resurface my pool with paint or plaster?

• Why are pool pumps now required to be variable speed? 

• What are the clearance requirements for an overhead electric service drop that is directly over or near a swimming pool?

    Visit our POOL AND SPA page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.