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Council hears first reading to update pool safety rules; debate over 4-foot vs. 6-foot barriers
Summary
The council received a first reading of a zoning text amendment that would update pool-barrier standards to align with portions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, including a possible allowance for a 4-foot self-closing, self-latching fence in some cases; councilors asked for more research on above-ground pool exemptions.
The Watertown City Council heard a first reading of a proposed amendment to Chapter 21.79 concerning swimming pools as part of the city’s adoption cycle for the 2024 International Building Code updates. Community Development Manager Brandy Hatton explained the draft would allow an alternative to the current automatic requirement for a six-foot barrier: properties with a code-compliant automatic pool cover could qualify for a 4-foot self-closing, self-latching fence, while staff retained a higher safety standard in other circumstances.
Council members asked for clarification about above-ground pools (often exempt from permitting because they are considered temporary) and whether the city should study broader rules for those installations. Several councilors noted the item had been before an earlier council within the past year and that circumstances and council membership had changed; staff said public feedback and updated code cycles prompted the renewed consideration.
This was a first reading; the amendment will return with any revisions after staff research on above-ground pool practices and additional planning-commission input.
