arizona pool laws
Tucson Pool Laws – What You Need To Know
July 9, 2007 by Tucson Realtor - Michael Krotchie · 9 Comments
Since the start of 2007 there have been 2 deaths and 9 near deaths by drowning in Tucson. In just the past week there has been one death and 2 near drownings: 1-year old Daniela Parra drowned in an above ground pool in her backyard while friends and family were inside. A two-year old girl slipped past adults and nearly drowned in a backyard pool while other children were swimming. And a 5-year-old girl nearly drowned while swimming with adults and children. Every year we see heart-breaking stories like these that could be easily prevented and I thought it would be prudent to go over Arizona state pool laws for everyone.
In 1991 Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S) § 33-1681 was passed, requiring enclosures around pool areas. This is an Arizona state law but each city or county may implement additional, more restrictive laws. Check your local laws here. Here are the basics of the statute (from Arizona Department of Health Services – Residential Pool Safety Notice):
POOL ENCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
A.R.S. § 36-1681 requires that all residential swimming pools are enclosed by a barrier. Unless a local code provides otherwise, the barrier must:
- Entirely enclose the pool area,
- Be at least 5 feet high,
- Not have openings, handholds, or footholds that can be used to climb the barrier,
- Have no openings through which an object 4 inches in diameter can pass,
- Be at least 20 inches from the water’s edge, and
- Prevent direct access from the house to the pool.
If the wall of the residence forms part of the pool enclosure, there must be:
- A barrier at least 4 feet high between the residence and the pool, or
- A motorized safety pool cover that requires a key switch and meets the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards in F1346-91 (www.astm.org), or
- Self-latching devices on all doors with direct access to the pool, and
- Self-latching devices at least 54 inches above the floor on all emergency or rescue windows with direct access to the pool or pool area, and
- For all other openable windows with access to the pool or pool area, screwed in place wire more than 4 inches, or self-latching devices at least 54 inches above the floor.
I've lived in the Old Pueblo for more than a decade and have an intimate knowledge of Tucson as well as the surrounding areas. I go hiking and traveling whenever I have a break from real estate (which isn't often enough!) and enjoy taking in an Arizona sunset while relaxing in my backyard. 
