Swimming pools in Menlo Park: the local rules

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

What Menlo Park's code says

Menlo Park code What Menlo Park's code adds
Pool barrier	No openings larger than 50 inches square, except rectangles no more than 4 inches wide may be larger. § 12.36.020 · code text having no openings therein, other than doors or gates as hereinafter provided, larger than fifty (50) inches square, except that a rectangular opening having no horizontal dimension exceeding four inches may have a greater area. Wire mesh of at least 11-gauge galvanized steel. Applies: Applies to wire pool fences; a guide only, other equally strong construction is allowed. § 12.36.040 · code text Wire fences shall be constructed of wire mesh not less than 11-gauge galvanized steel wire Galvanized posts 1¼ inches in diameter, no more than 10 feet on center. Applies: Applies to wire pool fences; a guide only, other equally strong construction is allowed. § 12.36.040 · code text supported on one and one-fourth inch diameter galvanized post spaced not over ten feet on centers. Posts set at least 12 inches into concrete. Applies: Applies to wire pool fences; a guide only, other equally strong construction is allowed. § 12.36.040 · code text Posts shall be embedded at least twelve inches into concrete fill-in holes Concrete-filled holes at least 6 inches wide and 18 inches deep. Applies: Applies to wire pool fences; a guide only, other equally strong construction is allowed. § 12.36.040 · code text fill-in holes not less than six inches in diameter and eighteen inches in depth.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet tall. Applies: Applies to the fence around the pool or whole lot, for pools 2 feet deep or more. § 12.36.020 · code text a fence or other solid structure not less than five (5) feet in height
Gates	Self-closing and self-latching; devices at least 54 inches above grade. Applies: Applies to all gates or doors through the enclosure; house doors that form part of it are exempt. § 12.36.030 · code text All gates or doors opening through the solid enclosure required by Section 12.36.020 shall, at all times, be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device designed to keep and capable of keeping such 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 hereinabove required need not be so equipped. The self-closing and self-latching devices shall be not less than fifty-four (54) inches above grade.
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from rear and side lot lines; not in a required front yard. Applies: Applies to rear and side lot lines. § 16.70.010 · code text shall not be constructed in any required front yard or closer than five feet to any rear lot line or side line At least 10 feet from the street-side lot line. Applies: Applies on the street side of a corner lot where the rear line abuts a side line. § 16.70.010 · code text On the street side of any corner lot, where the rear lot line abuts a side lot line, no pool shall be located closer than ten feet to such side lot line.

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What are the pool fence and setback rules in Menlo Park?

Menlo Park's code: At least 5 feet tall. (Applies to the fence around the pool or whole lot, for pools 2 feet deep or more.) (§ 12.36.020); At least 5 feet from rear and side lot lines; not in a required front yard. (Applies to rear and side lot lines.) (§ 16.70.010).

Swimming pools in Menlo Park

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