Swimming pools in Garden Grove: the local rules

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

What Garden Grove's code says

Garden Grove code What Garden Grove's code adds
Pool barrier	The gap from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure is at most 2 inches. § 18.18.130 · code text A maximum vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure of two inches. Gaps must not let a sphere 4 inches or wider pass through. § 18.18.130 · code text Gaps or voids, if any, do not allow passage of a sphere equal to or greater than four inches in diameter. The outside must have no bumps, holes or features that could help a child under 5 climb over. § 18.18.130 · code text An outside surface free of protrusions, cavities, or other physical characteristics that would serve as handholds or footholds that could enable a child below the age of five years to climb over. At least 2 of 7 drowning safety features, such as an enclosure, mesh fence, safety cover or door exit alarms. Applies: Applies with a permit for a new or remodeled pool or spa at a private single-family home, except as state law provides. § 18.18.120 · code text when a building permit is issued for the construction of a new swimming pool or spa or the remodeling of an existing swimming pool or spa at a private single-family home
Barrier height	At least 60 inches tall. Applies: Applies to the pool or spa enclosure. § 18.18.130 · code text A minimum height of 60 inches.
Equipment and alarms	Exit alarms on house doors to the pool count as one safety feature; they may sound or give spoken warnings. Applies: Applies to new or remodeled pools or spas at a private single-family home, which need at least 2 of 7 safety features. § 18.18.120 · code text The exit alarm may cause either an alarm noise or a verbal warning, such as a repeating notification that "the door to the pool is open."
Gates	Gates open away from the pool, self-close, and self-latch with the latch at least 60 inches above the ground. § 18.18.130 · code text Any access gates through the enclosure open away from the swimming pool and are self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground. The gate must be self-closing, self-latching, and able to take a key lock. Applies: Applies when removable mesh fencing is used as one of the required safety features. § 18.18.120 · code text Removable mesh fencing that meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specifications F2286 standards in conjunction with a gate that is self-closing and self-latching and can accommodate a key lockable device.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Garden Grove?

Garden Grove's code: At least 60 inches tall. (Applies to the pool or spa enclosure.) (§ 18.18.130); Gates open away from the pool, self-close, and self-latch with the latch at least 60 inches above the ground. (§ 18.18.130).

Swimming pools in Garden Grove

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