Huntsville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VIII — SWIMMING POOLS | Code of Ordinances of the City of Huntsville, Alabama (Supp. No. 30 (codified through Ord. No. 26-196, adopted March 12, 2026) with enacted ordinances through Ord. No. 26-837 (September 24, 2026) applied from official council minutes and ordinance copies) — City of Huntsville

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 7-611 Definitions.

Sec. 7-611. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Family pool means a swimming pool used or intended to be used solely by the owner, operator or lessee and his family and by friends invited to use it without payment of any fee, and is considered a body of water in an artificial or semiartificial receptacle or other container, whether located indoors or outdoors, but is not to include swimming pools operated and maintained in conjunction with or by clubs, motels, hotels, community associations or private clubs. (Code 1982, § 7-109)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 7-612 Violations.

Sec. 7-612. - Violations. Any person violating any provisions of this article or violating any rule or requirement enacted by the health department under this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Code 1982, § 7-111)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 7-613 Enclosure required; specifications; modifications.

Sec. 7-613. - Enclosure required; specifications; modifications. (a) Every outdoor family swimming pool shall be completely surrounded by a fence or wall not less than four feet in height, which shall be so constructed as not to have openings, holes or gaps larger than four inches in any dimension except for doors and gates; and if a picket fence is erected or maintained, the horizontal dimension shall not exceed four inches. A dwelling house or accessory building may be used as part of such enclosure. (b) All gates or doors opening through such enclosures shall be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device for keeping the gate or door securely closed at all times when not in actual use, except that the door of any dwelling which forms a part of the enclosure need not be so equipped. (c) This requirement shall be applicable to all new family pools constructed after June 11, 1959, other than indoor pools, and shall apply to all existing pools which have a minimum depth of 18 inches of water. No person in possession of land within the city, either as owner, purchaser, lessee, tenant or a licensee, upon which is situated a family swimming pool having a minimum depth of 18 inches shall fail to provide and maintain such fence or wall as provided in this section. (d) The health department may make modifications in individual cases, upon a showing of good cause with respect to the height, nature or location of the fence, wall, gates or latches, or their necessity, provided the protection as sought under this section is not reduced. The health department may permit other protective devices or structures to be used so long as the degree of protection afforded by the substitute devices or structures is not less than the protection afforded by the wall, fence, gate and latch described in this section. (Code 1982, § 7-110)