Aluminum & Pool-Code Fence Installation in Fuquay-Varina

Aluminum fencing for pools and open yards

Powder-coated aluminum is a common pick for pool fences and for yards where you want a boundary without blocking the view. It does not need paint, and it holds up in our humid summers.

Which North Carolina pool code applies right now?

The 2018 North Carolina Residential Code is still the code in effect. A newer 2024 code was set to start on January 1, 2025, but the NC Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) says that start was postponed and the 2018 code stays in effect for now (OSFM: 2024 code delayed, OSFM: current codes). Some websites still say the 2024 code is in force. If you are not sure, ask your inspector which edition they use.

What does the code say about a pool barrier?

Pool barriers are in Appendix V, Section AV105, of the 2018 code. In a February 2025 letter, OSFM quoted these rules from Section AV105.2 (OSFM interpretation, Feb. 14, 2025):

• Height: the top of the barrier must be at least 48 inches above grade, measured on the side away from the pool.
• Gap at the bottom: no more than 2 inches between grade and the bottom of the barrier. Over concrete or another solid surface, the limit is 4 inches.
• Openings: no opening can let a 4-inch sphere pass through.
• Gates: walk-through gates must open outward, away from the pool, and must be self-closing and self-latching. Gates must also be able to take a lock.
• Low latches: if the latch release is less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, it must be on the pool side, at least 3 inches below the top of the gate. The gate and barrier also can't have any opening larger than 1/2 inch within 18 inches of the release.

The spacing between pickets also has rules, and they depend on how far apart the horizontal rails are. Your inspector checks those details.

OSFM's pool barrier question page adds a few more points (OSFM: common pool barrier questions):

• The barrier must be permanent. You should not be able to remove, lift, or move it without a tool.
• The barrier must be placed so nearby structures, equipment, or similar objects can't be used to climb it. OSFM says a structure next to the barrier must be 3 feet away from it.
• The code does not set a distance between the barrier and the edge of the pool.

Do I need a permit for a pool fence in Fuquay-Varina?

A fence by itself does not need a permit inside Fuquay-Varina town limits or the ETJ, but a pool does (Town of Fuquay-Varina fence FAQ). OSFM has said the barrier for a new pool is part of the pool's permit, not a separate one (OSFM: swimming pool barrier permits). Ask the office that issues your pool permit when the barrier will be inspected.

Watch the 4-foot front yard limit

Inside Fuquay-Varina town limits, a front yard fence can't be taller than 4 feet, and solid fences aren't allowed there (Land Development Ordinance, fence section). A pool barrier has to be at least 48 inches, which is exactly 4 feet, so a front yard pool barrier has no room to spare. Most pools fit better in the side or back yard. Our fence height limits guide covers each yard. Before you plan a fence near the front of the house, call the Town of Fuquay-Varina Planning Department at (919) 552-1429. That is the Town's number, not ours.

This page is homeowner information, not legal advice. The inspector has the final word.

Sources

• NC Office of the State Fire Marshal: North Carolina delays implementation of 2024 State Building Code (April 7, 2025)
• NC Office of the State Fire Marshal: Codes, current and past
• OSFM formal interpretation, 2018 NCRC AV105 barrier requirements (Feb. 14, 2025)
• OSFM: AV105.2 pool barriers, automated covers and other common questions
• OSFM: Swimming pool barrier permits
• Town of Fuquay-Varina: fence FAQ
• Town of Fuquay-Varina Land Development Ordinance, fence section (full ordinance on the Town's document downloads page)

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