Texas Residential Pool Laws and Regulations
Each year in the United States, there is an average of 11 drowning deaths per day. Texas is high on the list with an average of 3 drownings per day.
Unsupervised swimming is dangerous for children and other individuals who don’t understand water safety. Residential swimming pool regulations in Texas exist to combat this issue.
Keep reading to learn about pool codes and regulations you need to know when owning a private pool in Texas.
Residential Swimming Pool Regulations in Texas
The state of Texas has laws regarding safety requirements for public pools and private pools. The homeowners’ association, local ordinance, or other body might provide stricter requirements than Texas law.
Each city or county has the right to set swimming pool codes that don’t always align with state laws. Most counties, for example, have strict water clarity requirements while Texas law does not.
If your development has an HOA, check its rules before owning or building a swimming pool on your property.
Texas Residential Pool Fence Requirements
Do you have to have a fence around your pool in Texas? A Texas homeowner must have a minimum 4-foot high barrier around the pool.
The barrier itself cannot have any gaps or openings more than 4 inches wide. You cannot have a barrier made of chain-link fencing.
Swimming pool codes and regulations also include the need for a pool gate that is self-close or self-latch. It must be capable of getting locked in one of the following ways:
- Padlock
- Combination lock
- Built-in keypad
- Key card
Latches must be out of children’s reach to prevent unsupervised access to the pool.
Pool Alarms and Other Safety Systems
Residential pool laws in Texas include pool alarms and other safety systems. If the wall of your home serves as a boundary, you have to install an alarm on doors and windows that open to the pool area.
Alarms should sound when someone enters the pool. Texas law requires this alarm system to be high enough on a wall that it cannot be reached by children.
It’s also important to note that pools cannot be in the front yard and can’t be too close to the property line. So, how far does a pool have to be from the house in Texas? The rule is at least 5 feet away.
For an above-ground pool, steps or ladders have to have a locking capability for security when the pool is not in use.
Violation Penalties
If you violate any Texas residential pool laws, you’ll face a heavy fine. The exact amount you’ll pay depends on the violation at hand. The average is anywhere between $200 and $1,000 for each day of the violation.
Neighborhood protection officials have power under the Texas Local Government Code to repair a defective swimming pool barrier and charge the homeowner the cost.
Are You Following Texas Swimming Pool Laws?
Texas state swimming pool laws aren’t as strict as regulations made by HOA or the county you live in. To stay compliant with the rules, it’s important to know the different regulations you are required to meet.
At Escape Pools, we stay up to date with Texas residential swimming pool laws by state and county to help our customers with an easy swimming pool installation process.
For a beautiful swimming pool that focuses on safety and Texas regulations, contact Escape Pools today to get started.
