South Carolina 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. South Carolina's pool code applies only where your county or city has adopted it (S.C. Code 6-9-60).
Last reviewed: September 2026. Report an error →
South Carolina Pool Barrier Law
South Carolina does not list its pool code among the building codes every county and city must enforce. The mandatory codes, set by S.C. Code Section 6-9-50 and adopted with changes by the South Carolina Building Codes Council, are the building, residential, fire, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and electrical codes. The International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), which holds the barrier rules, is one of the state's permissive codes under Section 6-9-60: a county or city has to adopt it by ordinance before it can enforce it.
Some counties have. Greenville County lists the 2021 ISPSC among its adopted codes, and Spartanburg County publishes barrier requirements from the 2024 ISPSC. Where the ISPSC is in force, Section 305 requires:
- A barrier at least 48 inches tall, measured on the outside
- Openings too small for a 4-inch sphere, and a bottom gap of 2 inches or less
- Pedestrian gates that swing out, away from the pool, and close and latch by themselves
- A latch at least 54 inches up when it can be reached from outside and is not self-locking; a latch placed only on the pool side must sit at least 3 inches below the top of the gate
- A 36-inch clear zone outside the barrier, free of permanent structures and equipment a child could climb
The Council adopted the 2024 editions of the mandatory codes on August 26, 2025, for counties and cities to use from January 1, 2027. The same notice keeps the ISPSC on the permissive list.
City & County Variations in South Carolina
South Carolina's pool barrier rules depend on local adoption of the ISPSC. The rows below show what we confirmed from county documents. Anywhere else, ask the building department whether it has adopted the pool code.
| City / County | Key Notes |
|---|---|
| Greenville County | The county's list of adopted codes, effective January 1, 2023, includes the 2021 ISPSC. |
| Spartanburg County | Publishes a Swimming Pool Barrier Requirements sheet based on the 2024 ISPSC. |
| Charleston / Charleston County | The City of Charleston lists the 2021 ISPSC among the codes it enforces. We have not verified Charleston County. See our Charleston guide for the city's permit rules. |
| Horry County | The county's pool fence affidavit applies the 2018 ISPSC to pools it permits in unincorporated areas, and requires alarms where the house wall is part of the barrier. Towns such as Myrtle Beach run their own building departments. See our Horry County guide. |
| Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head and other areas | Not verified. Ask the county, city or town building department whether the pool code is in force and which edition. |
Official source: Building Codes in Effect for South Carolina (SC Building Codes Council)
Above-Ground Pools in South Carolina
Where your county or city has adopted the ISPSC, above-ground and on-ground pools follow the same Section 305 rules as in-ground pools. The pool wall can be the barrier if it sits on grade, reaches 48 inches above grade around the entire pool, meets the opening limits, and the manufacturer allows it to serve as a barrier.
Ladders and steps must be removable, lockable or otherwise secured so that no 4-inch opening remains, or they need a barrier of their own around them.
Because adoption is local, ask your county or city building department two questions before you buy: has it adopted the ISPSC, and which edition?
Pool Fence Cost in South Carolina
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.
South Carolina-Specific FAQs
South Carolina Pool Fence: Local Adoption and HOAs
The first question in South Carolina is not how tall the fence must be but whether your jurisdiction enforces a pool code at all. The ISPSC applies where a county or city adopts it by ordinance, so neighboring jurisdictions can differ.
Where no pool code applies, you can still build to the ISPSC's 48-inch standard. It is the rule you would meet if your area adopts the code later.
Planned coastal communities may have homeowners' association (HOA) or architectural review rules on fence color and style. Those run separately from the building department, so get both approvals before ordering.
Sources
Every rule on this page traces to one of these. We link the primary source so you can check it yourself.
- SC Building Codes Council, Building Codes in Effect for South Carolina (12/2022) (mandatory codes under 6-9-50; the ISPSC is permissive under 6-9-60)
- SC Building Codes Council, 2024 Final Modification Index (2024 codes adopted August 26, 2025, in force January 1, 2027; ISPSC still permissive)
- City of Charleston, Building Inspections (2021 ISPSC in force in the city)
- Greenville County Building Safety, Current Adopted Codes (effective January 1, 2023) (2021 ISPSC adopted)
- Spartanburg County, Swimming Pool Barrier Requirements (2024 ISPSC barrier rules in use)
- International Code Council (ICC), 2024 ISPSC Section 305, Barrier Requirements (height, openings, gates, latch, clear zone, pool wall as barrier)
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