A pool is one of the best things you can add to a Main Line backyard, and a proper barrier is the part you can’t skip. At 76 FENCE Main Line, we install pool fences that are designed around Pennsylvania’s code requirements from the first measurement, in materials that suit your home, your view and your maintenance tolerance. We handle the permit, coordinate with your pool builder if you have one, and make sure the gates work the way they’re supposed to.
Pennsylvania Pool Barrier Basics
Pool barriers in Pennsylvania follow the Uniform Construction Code, which is based on the ICC codes. In general terms, that means:
- Height: the barrier must be at least 48 inches high.
- Gates: pedestrian gates must be self-closing and self-latching.
- Swing direction: gates open outward, away from the pool.
- Climbability and gaps: the fence design, openings and the space at the bottom all have to meet code so a child can’t climb over or squeeze through.
These are the general rules. Your township may add its own requirements, and your township inspector has final say. We check the requirements for your address before we design the fence.
Choosing a Pool Fence Material
Aluminum
The most popular pool fence we install. Black aluminum is rust-resistant, low maintenance and open, so you can see the pool from the house. See aluminum fencing.
Vinyl
Solid or semi-privacy vinyl adds screening from neighbors and won’t rot in a wet, splash-heavy environment. See vinyl fencing.
Wood
A cedar privacy fence can serve as a pool barrier when designed to code, giving a secluded, resort-like feel. See wood fencing.
Ornamental steel
For a more formal look and extra strength, especially around estate properties. See steel and ornamental.
See the Pool, or Screen It?
The biggest design decision is visibility. Many parents want to watch the pool from the kitchen window, which points toward open aluminum. Others want privacy from neighbors or the street, which points toward vinyl or wood. A common solution is both: open aluminum on the side facing the house and a privacy fence along the property line, with every section meeting barrier requirements.
Horizontal slat designs are also popular around modern pools, as long as the design meets code for climbability. We’ll explain what works and what doesn’t before you commit.
Gates Are Where Pool Fences Fail
A pool fence is only as good as its gates. Hinges that stop self-closing or a latch that no longer catches can quietly defeat the whole barrier. We use pool-rated self-closing hinges and self-latching hardware, hang gates to swing outward away from the pool, and adjust them so they close and latch from any open position. We’ll show you how to test them, and it’s worth doing at the start of every swim season. Learn more on our gates page.
Installing Around Pools and Patios
Pool yards come with extra complexity: concrete decks, pavers, retaining walls, equipment pads and buried plumbing and electrical lines. We submit the PA One Call (811) request so public utilities are marked, and we’ll ask about private lines like pool plumbing, lighting and landscape wiring. Where posts land in concrete or pavers, we plan core-drilled or surface-mounted solutions with you. Posts in soil are set typically 30″–36″ deep in our area, below the frost line; local code governs.
If you’re building a new pool, bring us in early. Coordinating the fence with your pool builder’s schedule and the final inspection saves time and headaches.
Ready for a fence you'll love?
Book a free, no-pressure estimate. Zero dispatch fees — and we handle permits, HOA paperwork and the 811 call.
Permits and Your Free Estimate
Pool barriers almost always involve a permit and an inspection, and rules vary by municipality and HOA. We check them for you and handle the paperwork. Andrew Taylor, our General Manager, meets most customers on site to measure, walk gate locations and talk through visibility and style. Estimates are free, there are no dispatch fees, and we offer and honor manufacturer warranty coverage on every fence we install. Financing through our partner Wisetack is available, and you can check your options online in minutes.
Call or text 484-779-6307 or book your free estimate before swim season sneaks up on you.