J & N REALTY, INC.

Los Angeles Municipal Code  

 Swimming Pool Enclosures and Safety Devices. 

91.3109.3.  Public Swimming Pools.  Public swimming pools shall be completely enclosed by a fence or screen enclosure at least five feet (1524 mm) in height.  Openings in the fence or screen enclosure shall not permit the passage of a four-inch-diameter (102 mm) sphere.  The fence or screen enclosure shall be equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates. 

91.3109.4.  Residential Swimming Pools.  Residential swimming pools on a lot with one to three dwelling units shall comply with Section 91.3109.4.1 and CBC Sections 3109.4.1.1 through 3109.4.4.7. 

     EXCEPTION:  A swimming pool with a power safety cover or a spa with a safety cover complying with ASTM F 1346. 

91.3109.4.1.  Barrier Height and Clearances.  For residential swimming pools, the top of the barrier shall be at least 60 inches (1524 mm) above grade measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the swimming pool.  The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be two inches (51 mm) measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the swimming pool.  Where the top of the pool structure is above grade, the barrier is permitted to be mounted on top of the pool structure, provided the maximum vertical clearance between the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier shall be four inches (102 mm), or at grade level.

Swimming Pools and Other Bodies of Water – Protective Devices Required 

     (a)     Fences.  Every swimming pool, fish pond or other body of water, which contains water 18 inches or more in depth, shall be enclosed by a fence, the height of which, including gates, shall be not less than four and one-half feet above the ground.  Gates shall be self-latching with the latch located four and one-half feet minimum above the ground.  However, for new swimming pool or spas, the height and construction of the fence and gate shall comply with the requirements of Division 31, whichever is more restrictive and provide greater safety. 

     Where the ground surface on the side of the fence away from the body of water slopes upward, four and one-half feet clearance shall be maintained between the fence and the face of the slope. 

     In lieu of maintaining a fence, the owner may provide a competent person who shall keep the pool under observation at all times while water is kept in the pool. 

     EXCEPTION:  The provisions of this section shall not apply to oceans, lakes, rivers, streams and similar bodies of water, which are publicly owned over which the State of California of the City or County of Los Angeles has control and jurisdiction. 

     (b)     Existing Body of Water.  The provisions of this section shall also apply to all existing bodies of water.

Pool Water Clarity 

     The recirculation and purification system of any swimming pool, fishpond, or any other body of water which is required to be fenced by Section 91.6109.1, shall be operated and maintained to keep the water in such pool or other body of water clean and of reasonable clarity. 

     In order to define reasonable clarity of the water in such pool, pond, or body of water, the following standard shall be applied: 

     A painted black disk, 6 inches in diameter on a 12-inch by 12-inch white tile, placed at the bottom of the pool at its deepest point, shall be clearly visible from the sidewalks around the pool from all distances up to 10 yards from such disk, or the water is determined to not be of reasonable clarity.