Are Your Pool Barriers Compliant with Arizona Law?

With nearly year-round sunshine and warm temperatures, Arizona is a haven for swimmers and sunbathers, and many homes, hotels, and apartment complexes within the state have swimming pools on their properties. Unfortunately, this prevalence of pools correlates with a higher-than-average rate of accidental drownings: statistics indicate that children in Arizona drown at almost twice the national rate. Many of these incidences occur in backyard pools, and kids between the ages of one and four are at the highest risk. In an effort to prevent tragedies—and in recognition of the fact that proper pool barriers are among the most effective ways to reduce the risk of drowning—the State of Arizona has enacted laws detailing requirements for pool fences and gates on residential and commercial properties.

Arizona Pool Fence Requirements

Arizona law requires that below-ground and above-ground pools must be completely enclosed by a wall, fence, or other barrier that is at least five feet high (as measured from the exterior side), and does not have any openings through which an object four inches or more in diameter could pass.

If the wall of a home or building constitutes part of the pool enclosure, the above fencing requirements may be substituted with one of the following:

• • A wall, fence, or barrier that is at least four feet high;
  • A motorized safety pool cover that requires a key switch, which must meet standards published by the American Society for Testing and Materials;
  • A self-latching device on any doors with direct access to the pool area. Windows that open to the pool area must be equipped with a screwed-in-place wire mesh screen, a keyed lock that prevents the window from opening more than four inches, or a latching device located at least 54 inches above the floor. 

Arizona Pool Gate Requirements

As with fences, state law stipulates that pool gates must comply with certain requirements. Specifically, they must:

• • Be self-closing;
  • Open outward from the pool; and
  • Have self-latching mechanisms located at least 54 inches above the ground. If the latch is situated on the pool side of the gate, the release mechanism must be at least five inches below the top of the gate.

While Arizona law only requires residential properties to comply with these requirements if there are children under the age of six living in the home, all homeowners are advised to install proper pool barriers in order to protect kids who may visit the home, pets, and anyone else who may be vulnerable to drowning. Additionally, cities and towns within Arizona may impose more stringent requirements.

At DCS Pool Barriers, we have been designing, manufacturing, and installing wrought iron pool fences and gates for properties throughout the greater Phoenix area for over a decade. With its intense durability, wrought iron creates a formidable barrier to unauthorized entry into the pool area—yet its natural elegance ensures that any wrought iron fence or gate will enhance the beauty of the property. Our team is well-versed in state and local laws governing pool barriers, and whether we are working with a commercial or residential property, we will ensure that the finished product is safe, stylish, and legally compliant. Contact DCS Pool Barriers today at 623-825-7700 for a free estimate!

(Sources: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/36/01681.htm, https://www.azfamily.com/archives/statistics-show-arizona-children-drown-at-nearly-twice-the-national/article_57d215bc-950d-5b0d-b834-9eb1d262482f.html).