Phoenix / Maricopa County at a Glance
Arizona Law and Phoenix's Own Code
Arizona puts its pool barrier rule in a statute. Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) 36-1681 covers any pool at least 18 inches deep and wider than 8 feet. The enclosure must be at least 5 feet high measured outside, pass no 4-inch sphere, keep horizontal members 45 inches apart or on the pool side, sit at least 20 inches from the water, and have gates that open outward, close and latch on their own, with the latch 54 inches up or on the pool side at least 5 inches below the top.
Where the house is one side of the enclosure, subsection (C) asks for one added protection: a 4-foot barrier between house and pool, a key-switch motorized cover, self-latching doors with latched or limited windows, or an above-ground pool with 4-foot unclimbable sides. The statute does not apply where every resident is at least 6, to pools built before it took effect, or in a city or county whose ordinance came first or is equal to or stricter than the statute (subsection D). A violation is a petty offense, with no fine if the owner installs a compliant barrier and completes an approved safety course within 45 days (subsection F).
Phoenix. The city applies the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), 2024 edition, as amended by Ordinance G-7397, in effect August 1, 2025. The barrier must be 60 inches high, with that height held for 3 feet out from it. Barriers must be installed, inspected and approved before the pool is plastered or filled, and chain link needs 11-gauge wire with openings no wider than 1¾ inches.
The city's pool barrier handout (TRT/DOC/00144, rev. 01/26) explains the house-to-pool rule. Besides the fence at the property line, a pool permitted after May 4, 1990 needs a barrier between the house and the pool, and there are three ways to provide it: a separate inner fence around the pool, the house wall itself with self-closing, self-latching doors that swing away from the pool and window latches at 54 inches (or 4-inch stops or screwed-in screens), or a motorized safety cover meeting ASTM F1346. Pet doors are not allowed in that wall. The city says alarms do not meet the code minimum; it treats them as an extra layer only.
Two inspections check the pool, pre-gunite and pre-plaster, and the barrier is inspected at pre-plaster. Mesh fencing must meet ASTM F2286 and sit no more than 1 inch above grade. A new permit is needed to enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace an approved barrier.
Phoenix Metro: Who Sets the Rule
Each row below comes from that jurisdiction's own document. Where we have not checked a city's code, we say so.
| Area | What we verified |
|---|---|
| Phoenix | 2024 ISPSC with city amendments: 60-inch barrier held 3 feet out, 2-inch bottom gap (4 over a solid surface), latch at 54 inches, house-to-pool barrier for pools permitted after May 4, 1990 (TRT 00144). Barrier inspected at pre-plaster; a new permit is needed to change or replace it. |
| Unincorporated Maricopa County | The county's barrier summary applies to water deeper than 18 inches and/or wider than 8 feet and sets a 60-inch barrier. A house door opening onto the pool area needs a separate barrier between door and pool, unless the building official approves an 85-decibel door alarm instead. The barrier permit must be issued before the barrier goes up or the pool is plastered or filled. |
| Scottsdale | Its own amendments to the pool code. See our Scottsdale and Mesa guide. |
| Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise | Separate cities. We have not verified their local codes; ask each building department whether it has its own barrier ordinance. If it does not, ARS 36-1681 applies as written. |
Pool Fence Cost in Phoenix: 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 of Phoenix, Amendments to the 2024 ISPSC (Ordinance G-7397, effective August 1, 2025) (60-inch height, approval before plaster or fill, chain link, house wall, 1990 exemption)
- City of Phoenix Planning and Development, TRT/DOC/00144 Pool Barriers Requirements (rev. 01/26) (inspections, house-to-pool options, gates, mesh, permits)
- Arizona Revised Statutes 36-1681, Pool enclosures (checked September 2026) (state barrier rules, house-wall options, exemptions and penalty)
- Maricopa County Planning and Development, Residential Pool and Barrier Requirements (undated page, checked September 2026) (unincorporated county scope, height, door rule and permit timing)
Frequently Asked Questions
Full state guide: Arizona Pool Fence Requirements, complete ARS §36-1681 details, all cities, and statewide rules.