Minnesota Pool Fence Requirements at a Glance
State and local laws change. This information reflects our best research as of September 2026, but you must confirm current requirements with your local building department before installing or modifying any pool barrier. Minnesota's building code has no pool barrier section, so your city's ordinance is the rule. Ask the city before you build.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Report an error →
Minnesota Pool Barrier Law
Minnesota's State Building Code includes the Minnesota Residential Code, built on the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC). The state removed that code's pool section: Minnesota Rules 1309.0326 deletes IRC Section R326, the section on swimming pools, spas and hot tubs, in its entirety (Revisor, 2020). The state also deletes the IRC appendices other than K and Q (Minn. R. 1309.0010), and for commercial buildings it deletes the building code's pool enclosure section, 3109 (Minn. R. 1305.3109).
The result: the state code sets no pool barrier for homes, and the rule that applies to your backyard comes from your city's ordinance.
The Department of Labor and Industry is working on an update of the residential code to the 2024 IRC; its request for comments was published February 2, 2026, and no draft rule has been posted yet (DLI rulemaking page). We will recheck the pool section when the new code is adopted.
Public pools. The Minnesota Department of Health regulates pools open to the public under Minnesota Rules chapter 4717. New fencing around a public pool must be at least 5 feet high, with self-closing, self-latching gates that can be locked, no opening over 4 inches and no more than 2 inches of space under the fence; fencing that existed before January 4, 1995 may be 4 feet (Minn. R. 4717.1550). Those rules do not govern a private backyard pool.
City Variations in Minnesota
With no state rule, cities write their own. We verified two from the cities' own pages; yours may differ.
| City | Pool barrier rule |
|---|---|
| Minnetonka | Outdoor pools, spas and hot tubs holding more than 24 inches of water need a non-climbable fence at least 5 feet tall, with self-closing, self-latching gates; vertical board fences may have openings of no more than 4 inches. The building official may accept an ASTM F1346 cover on a spa or hot tub instead (city pool page). |
| Delano | Outdoor pools more than 24 inches deep and over 150 square feet need a security fence or wall 4 to 6 feet high, set at least 4 feet from the pool edge, with self-closing, self-latching lockable gates (City Code 414.01). |
| Your city | Ask the building or planning department; the state code does not fill the gap. |
Above-Ground Pools in Minnesota
Above-ground pools are a city decision too. Delano, for example, exempts an above-ground pool from its fence rule when its walls are at least 4 feet high, vertical or sloped outward, and the only way in is a ladder, ramp or stairs that is taken away when the pool is not in use. Other cities may require a fence; ask yours.
Pool Fence Cost in Minnesota
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.
HOA Rules in Minnesota
An association can require approved materials, colors, heights or design review. Those rules sit on top of your city's ordinance, not in place of it. Where both apply, plan on the association's sign-off and the city permit.
Minnesota-Specific FAQs
Sources
Every rule on this page traces to one of these. We link the primary source so you can check it yourself.
- Minn. R. 1309.0326 (Revisor, 2020) (IRC Section R326, pools, deleted)
- Minn. R. 1309.0010 (Revisor, 2020) (2018 IRC adopted; appendices other than K and Q deleted)
- Minn. R. 1305.3109 (Revisor, 2015) (IBC pool enclosure section deleted)
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, chapter 1309 rulemaking (2024 IRC update; request for comments February 2, 2026)
- Minn. R. 4717.1550 (Minnesota Department of Health public pool rules) (public pool fencing: 5 feet new, 4 feet pre-1995, gates, latches)
- City of Minnetonka, Residential Swimming Pools and Spas (5-foot non-climbable fence, gates, openings, spa cover alternative)
- City of Delano, City Code Section 414.01 (4 to 6 foot fence, 4-foot setback, lockable gates, above-ground exemption)
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