Bell Gardens · Building on your lot

Swimming pools in Bell Gardens

The fence or structure around a pool must be at least 5 feet tall with no opening larger than 6 inches square.

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Key points

Pool fences: The fence or structure around a pool must be at least 5 feet tall with no opening larger than 6 inches square.

Each rule below links to the section of the Bell Gardens Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Bell Gardens's code says

Bell Gardens code What Bell Gardens's code adds
Pool barrier	No opening larger than 6 inches square. Applies: Applies to the fence or solid structure around the pool; doors and gates are excepted. § 16.32.020 · code text with no opening therein (other than doors or gates) larger than six inches square.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet tall. Applies: Applies to the fence or solid structure fully surrounding the pool or the lot. § 16.32.020 · code text Every person in possession of land within the city upon which is situated a swimming pool, either as owner, purchaser under contract, lessee, tenant, or licensee, shall at all times maintain on the lot or premises upon which the pool is located, a fence or solid structure, completely surrounding such pool, lot or premises, not less than five feet in height
Gates	A self-closing and/or self-latching device that keeps the gate or door closed when not in use. Applies: Applies to all gates or doors through the enclosure, except the door of an occupied dwelling that forms part of it. § 16.32.020 · code text All gates or doors opening through such enclosures shall be equipped with a self-closing and/or self-latching device designed to keep, and capable of keeping, the door or gate securely closed at all times when not in actual use; provided, however, that the door of any dwelling occupied by human beings and forming any part of the enclosure required need not be so equipped.
Maintenance and empty pools	Keep the pool from breeding mosquitoes; empty and keep dry any abandoned or out-of-service pool. Applies: Applies to all owners of property with a pool and all pool operators. § 16.32.040 · code text All owners of property that contain a swimming pool and all operators of a swimming pool shall at all times properly maintain and operate the swimming pool in a manner that does not allow the swimming pool to become a breeding place for mosquitoes, including emptying and keeping dry a swimming pool that is abandoned and/or not in service.
Permit	Plans submitted to the city must show the pool meets the rules; final approval is withheld until it does. Applies: Applies to new swimming pools. § 16.32.030 · code text All plans submitted to the city for swimming pools to be constructed shall show compliance with the requirements of BGMC § 16.32.020. Final inspection and approval of all pools constructed shall be withheld until all requirements of BGMC § 16.32.020 have been complied with.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Bell Gardens?

The fence or structure around a pool must be at least 5 feet tall with no opening larger than 6 inches square.

General information, not legal advice.

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Bell Gardens Municipal Code — full text