Bellevue — Ch. 8 Buildings, Housing, and Construction § 8-83

(a) Purpose. The provisions of this section shall control the design of barriers for private swimming pools or spa. These design controls are intended to provide protection against potential drowning and near drownings by restricting access to private swimming pools or spas.
(b) Temporary or portable pools. Temporary or portable swimming pools over 24 inches in depth must be erected, filled, and used within a fenced-in yard.
(c) Above-ground swimming pools. Above-ground swimming pools shall use one or more of the following barrier options:
(1) When the pool is less than 48 inches high, a barrier with openings no greater than four inches must be installed along the top of the swimming pool to maintain a height of 48 inches from grade or a 48-inch-high barrier with openings no greater than four inches must completely surround the swimming pool. This barrier must incorporate a ladder that is hinged and folds up latching in the up position. Such ladder shall remain latched in the up position during the hours when the swimming pool is not in use.
(2) When the pool is 48 inches high and has access by means of a ladder that is hinged and folds up latching it in the up position, or is easily and readily removable, a barrier shall not be required. The ladder shall remain latched in the up position or entirely removed from the swimming pool during the hours when the swimming pool is not in use.
(3) When the pool is 48 inches high and has access by means of a ladder that does not fold up or has a nonremovable latch, a 48-inch-high barrier with openings no greater than four inches with a selfclosing, self-latching gate that completely surrounds the ladder must be installed.
(4) Any deck which abuts any portion of a swimming pool shall have a minimum 48-inch-high guardrail or fence with openings no greater than four inches located along the portion of the deck that abuts the swimming pool. All gates within the barrier shall be self-closing and self-latching.
(d) In-ground swimming pools. A 48-inch-high barrier with openings no greater than four inches, or a wall which does not contain indentations or protrusions, shall completely surround the yard or in-ground swimming pool.
(e) Alarms. A side of the house used for the safety barrier with doors with direct access to either an above-ground swimming pool or in-ground swimming pool shall have an audible alarm on the door that activates when the door and screen are opened. An approved power safety cover can be used in lieu of the door alarms.
(f) Gates. All gates shall be equipped with self-closing, self-latching devices placed at a maximum of three inches below the top of the gate on the swimming pool side of the gate. On all gates that exceed 60 inches in height, the self-closing, self-latching devices may be located on the outside of the gate with a minimum of 54 inches from the bottom of the gate. No gate shall exceed 72 inches in height and openings in the gate shall not exceed four inches. All self-closing, self-latching devices must be located during the hours when the swimming pool is not in use.
(g) Spas. Spas must be equipped with an approved safety cover.