• Laws in different Maryland counties state that a fence must be built around residential pools.boy in swimming-pool image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com
  
  Residential Maryland swimming pools are required by law to have a barrier, such as a pool fence, surrounding them at all times -- both during construction and after -- to prevent the accidental death of individuals, especially children. Swimming can be enjoyable recreation as well as good exercise, but all those who own or wish to install a pool in Maryland should be aware of the ordinances that apply within their county.
  
  

Purpose

• The purpose of pool fence laws in Maryland is to help prevent accidental drownings associated with swimming pools. According to a report done by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 77 percent of deaths reported in pools involved children under the age of 5, and 84 percent of those children drowned in residential pools. Building a properly secured pool fence, which is unable to be climbed by a child, and meets other safety requirements, can help to eliminate the number of accidental drowning deaths in Maryland.
  
  

Montgomery County

• Under the guidelines of Chapter 51, Section 51-15 of the Montgomery County Code, all swimming pools that are being constructed and are more than 18 inches deep must be enclosed with a fence that is at least 42 inches high. Once the pool construction has ended, the pool itself, or the property it resides on, must be protected by a fence that is at least 5 feet high under Section 51-16 of the code. Residents will need to obtain a permit in order to build a pool fence in Montgomery County, which is provided by the Department of Permitting Services. All fences must be properly secured in the ground and maintained.
  
  

Other Jurisdictions

• Other jurisdictions in Maryland have their own regulations when it comes to pool fences. For example, in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford and Howard counties, residential pool fences must be at least 48 inches high. Typically, swimming pool owners must wait to actually fill a pool until a local inspector ensures the fence meets ordinance standards. Permit requirements vary in cities and counties.
  
  Residential swimming pool fences in Maryland that utilize a gate which can be open or shut must contain a self-latching lock, and the gate must open away from the pool. This regulation applies to all counties in the state.