Swimming pools in Martinez: the local rules

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

What Martinez's code says

Martinez code What Martinez's code adds
Pool barrier	Openings, holes or gaps no larger than 4 inches across. § 17.36.020 · code text with openings, holes or gaps therein no larger than 4 inches measured horizontally The gap between the ground and the bottom of the barrier is at most 2 inches. § 17.36.020 · code text The maximum vertical clearance between grade and bottom of the fence/barrier shall be 2 inches measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the pool. Vertical members and decorative cutouts no more than 1¾ inches apart. Applies: Applies to fences where the tops of horizontal members are less than 45 inches apart. § 17.36.020 · code text Spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 1 ¾ inches in width. Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 1 ¾ inches in width. Mesh at most 1¼ inch square, or slats reducing openings to 1¾ inches or less; wire at least #9 gauge. Applies: Applies to chain link fences. § 17.36.020 · code text Maximum mesh size for chain link fences shall be a 1 ¼ inch square unless the fences is provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom which reduce the openings to 1 ¾ inches or less, the wire shall not be less than #9 gauge. Openings between diagonal members at most 1¾ inches. Applies: Applies to barriers made of diagonal members. § 17.36.020 · code text Where the barrier is made of diagonal members the maximum openings formed by the diagonal members shall be 1 ¾ inches or less.
Barrier height	At least 4 feet 6 inches tall, measured outside the enclosure. Applies: Applies to pools deeper than 18 inches or larger than 250 square feet. § 17.36.020 · code text a fence or wall not less than 4 feet, 6 inches high (measured outside the enclosure)
Equipment and alarms	Doors to an indoor pool need an alarm sounding at least 30 seconds when opened, or approved self-closing, self-latching doors. Applies: Applies to indoor pools; the same rule as house doors that are part of the pool barrier. § 17.36.020 · code text Doors leading directly to indoor swimming pools shall comply with the requirements in G above and other applicable sections.
Gates	Gates need a locking device; pedestrian gates open outward away from the pool, self-close and self-latch; other gates self-latch. § 17.36.020 · code text Pedestrian-access gates shall open outward away from the pool and shall have a self-closing and latching device. Gates other than pedestrian access gates shall have a self—latching device. Release on pool side, at least 3 inches below the top; no openings over ½ inch within 18 inches. Applies: Applies when the latch release is less than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate. § 17.36.020 · code text Where the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, (a) the release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the gate at least 3 inches below the top of the gate, and (b) the gate and barrier shall have no openings greater than ½ inch within 18 inches of the release mechanism.

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What are the pool fence and setback rules in Martinez?

Martinez's code: At least 4 feet 6 inches tall, measured outside the enclosure. (Applies to pools deeper than 18 inches or larger than 250 square feet.) (§ 17.36.020); Gates need a locking device; pedestrian gates open outward away from the pool, self-close and self-latch; other gates self-latch. (§ 17.36.020).

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