Denver / Front Range at a Glance
Denver's Pool Codes and the Front Range
Colorado has no statewide building code (Colorado Office of the State Architect), so barrier rules are set locally, and Denver writes them into its own codes. For homes, the 2025 Denver Residential Code, Section R328.1 (Denver's amendments to the 2024 International Residential Code, or IRC) requires pools, spas and hot tubs to meet Section 305 of the ISPSC. Denver changes only one part of it, the house-wall rule described below. Under Section 305 (ICC model text, 2024 edition):
- A barrier at least 48 inches (4 feet) high, measured on the side away from the pool
- No opening that a 4-inch sphere can pass through, over or under the barrier
- Self-closing, self-latching gates opening away from the pool
- Mesh fencing with its bottom no more than 1 inch above grade and attachment at least 45 inches up
- Non-climbable construction with no exterior footholds
- Construction fencing at least 4 feet high around an in-ground pool site from the moment excavation begins
That last point, Section 305.1.1, means the site has to be fenced during construction, until the permanent barrier is finished. Denver's one change for homes is the house-wall rule. Where a wall of the home is part of the barrier and has doors or windows opening to the pool, those openings need a water-hazard entrance alarm listed to UL 2017 (in most homes with its deactivation switch at least 54 inches above the floor), a safety cover listed to ASTM F1346, or another approved means, such as self-closing, self-latching doors, that protects at least as well.
Pools under the Denver Commercial Building Code, which covers buildings outside the residential code such as apartment buildings and hotels, follow a stricter version: a barrier at least 60 inches high, and at least 48 inches between the barrier and the water (Section 3109, same document). Colorado's state rule for public pools also sets 60 inches (5 CCR 1003-5). Front Range suburbs adopt their own codes and editions.
Denver / Front Range: Who Sets the Rule
Colorado has no statewide building code for homes, so the rule depends on which city or county covers your address.
| Area | What we verified |
|---|---|
| City and County of Denver | Homes: the 2025 Denver Residential Code applies ISPSC Section 305 (R328.1, p. 147): a 48-inch barrier and construction fencing from excavation. Pools under the Commercial Building Code need 60 inches (Section 3109, p. 98). Permits: Denver Community Planning and Development. |
| Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Centennial and other suburbs | Each city adopts its own code edition and amendments. Confirm the height and setbacks with the city before ordering. |
| Douglas County, Boulder County and other counties | Each county adopts its own code edition. Confirm the barrier rule and permit with the county building department, and check any HOA covenants. |
Pool Fence Cost in Denver: National Ranges
We found no published source that prices pool fences by state or city, so these are national installed ranges from our pool fence cost guide. Quotes where you live can land above or below them.
| Material | Installed, per linear foot | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Removable mesh | $15 to $35 | Mesh fence cost |
| Aluminum | $30 to $60 | Aluminum fence cost |
| Vinyl / PVC | $20 to $45 | Vinyl fence cost |
| Tempered glass | $90 to $500 | Glass fence cost |
National typical installed ranges, not quotes. Multiply by your fence perimeter. Some sources include one gate in the figure; extra gates, permits and hard deck surfaces add to the total. Sources: HomeGuide (Feb 3, 2026), Life Saver Pool Fence (Aug 5 and Sep 23, 2026) and Pool Guard USA (May 20, 2025). Full source list and method: pool fence cost guide. Reviewed September 2026.
Sources
Every rule on this page traces to one of these. We link the primary source so you can check it yourself.
- City and County of Denver, 2025 Denver Building Code (June 2025, 1st printing; November 2025, 2nd printing) (Residential Code R328.1, p. 147: ISPSC 305 with 305.4 replaced; Commercial Building Code 3109, p. 98: 60 inches)
- International Code Council, 2024 ISPSC Section 305 (model text) (barrier height, openings, gates, mesh, construction fencing)
- Colorado Office of the State Architect, Building Codes (no statewide building code for private homes)
- 5 CCR 1003-5, Colorado swimming pool regulations (the 60-inch rule for public pools)
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver Pool Fencing: Fence the Hole, Then the Pool
The pool-fence rule that is easiest to miss: under ISPSC Section 305.1.1, which Denver keeps for homes, an in-ground pool site has to be fenced at least 4 feet high from the moment excavation begins until the permanent barrier is finished. Temporary construction fencing is part of the job from day one.
The height question is the other source of confusion. You'll see 60 inches quoted for Colorado and for Denver, and both are real: the state sets 60 inches for public pools, and Denver's Commercial Building Code sets 60 inches for pools in buildings it covers. For a backyard pool at a Denver home, the Residential Code applies the ISPSC's 48-inch rule. Front Range suburbs each adopt their own codes, so the exact rule depends on which city or county you're in.
Full state guide: Colorado Pool Fence Requirements, the statewide rules, all regions, and complete details.