Pool Fence in Lubbock, TX
What Lubbock's adopted pool code asks of a backyard pool barrier, what HOAs can't ban, and what each pool fence material costs.
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Referral website, not the contractor. How it works
Lubbock pool fences fall under the city's adopted 2021 Swimming Pool and Spa Code; HomeGuide puts installed pool fencing at $10–$45 per foot.
Lubbock Fence Install is a referral website, not a fence company. We send your request to one independent local fence company. You never pay us; companies we refer you to may pay us for referrals. This page explains the codes as posted in October 2026; it isn't legal advice, and Building Safety has the final word on your pool. To ask for a pool fence price, send a request with the form.
What Lubbock's pool code says about barriers
Lubbock adopted the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) as its pool and spa code by Ordinance 2024-O0033 on March 26, 2024, with local amendments. Section 305 of that code governs barriers around pools and spas. Three pieces of it matter most for a homeowner:
- The cover exception (Lubbock's amended 305.1). At one- and two-family homes and townhouses, if a spa or hot tub has a lockable safety cover complying with ASTM F1346 and a swimming pool has a powered safety cover complying with ASTM F1346, those areas don't have to meet the barrier sections, 305.2 through 305.7. A manual cover on the pool doesn't meet that wording.
- The house wall as part of the barrier (amended 305.4). When a wall of the home forms part of the barrier and doors or windows open straight to the pool, one of several protections is required. Operable windows with a sill lower than 48 inches, doors and gates can carry an alarm listed as a water hazard entrance alarm under UL 2017, or the city can approve other protection, such as self-closing doors with self-latching devices.
- Chain link at public pools. Lubbock added Section 305.2.7.1: chain link isn't permitted as the barrier for public pools built after January 1, 1994.
Lubbock's Unified Development Code adds the zoning side. A backyard pool, spa or hot tub must sit in the side or rear yard, and its setbacks are measured from the exterior pool fence or wall. The enclosure must meet the city's adopted building codes.
We couldn't open the published ISPSC text itself to quote its height, gap and latch dimensions, so ask City of Lubbock Building Safety (806-775-2087) for the exact barrier specs before you order. HomeGuide reports that most inground pool fences nationally are 42 to 60 inches tall, with 48 inches the most common.
Apartment and HOA pools: the state's numbers
Texas Health and Safety Code §757.003 covers pools at multiunit rental complexes and pools a property owners' association owns or maintains. Its enclosure rules:
| Requirement | State rule (§757.003) |
|---|---|
| Height | At least 48 inches, measured on the side away from the pool |
| Gap under the fence | Must not let a 4-inch sphere pass |
| Openings, horizontal rails 45+ in. apart | Must not let a 4-inch sphere pass |
| Openings, horizontal rails under 45 in. apart | Must not let a 1¾-inch sphere pass |
| Chain link | Prohibited for new enclosures built after January 1, 1994 |
| Diagonal members | Prohibited below 49 inches on new enclosures |
| Decorative cutouts | No opening over 1¾ inches |
| Climbing aids | Permanent equipment can't be placed where it helps someone climb over |
These are state requirements for those properties, not for a private home pool. They're a useful yardstick, and they explain why some HOAs and apartment managers reject chain link around a pool.
Wolfforth, Shallowater and Slaton
- Wolfforth has its own Swimming Pool and Spa Code article in Chapter 3 of its city code. Ask the Building Permit Department, (806) 855-4134, which barrier rules apply.
- Shallowater asks for an extra pool information form with any inground pool permit. Its building page also says a swimming pool larger than 320 square feet counts among accessory buildings that need a variance, which costs $125, in addition to permits. City Hall: (806) 696-4300.
- Slaton Building Services handles residential permits: (806) 828-2000.
Pool fence materials and prices
HomeGuide's national installed prices, checked October 2026:
| Material | Per foot installed | Notes from HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel wire mesh | $10 to $15 | Durable, rust-resistant, low cost |
| Mesh safety fence | $10 to $30 | Hard to climb; some versions are removable |
| Black vinyl-coated chain link | $10 to $29 | Not allowed at new apartment or HOA pools (state law) |
| Wood | $20 to $40 | Needs repainting or restaining |
| Vinyl | $30 to $45 | Low upkeep; can crack |
| Aluminum | $30 to $45 | A common pool choice |
| Wrought iron | $50 to $85 | Durable; rusts if not maintained |
| Tempered glass | $120 to $500 | Clear view; hard to climb |
By length, HomeGuide puts 100 feet at about $1,000 to $4,500 and 200 feet at $2,000 to $9,000. A self-closing, self-locking magnetic gate adds $200 to $800, and a permit about $40 to $150.
An open metal fence is the usual way to meet a barrier rule without blocking the view of the water. See wrought iron and ornamental metal for steel and aluminum options.
HOAs can't ban a mesh pool enclosure
Texas Property Code §202.022, passed in 2021, protects one kind of pool fence inside an HOA: an enclosure of transparent mesh or clear panels set in metal frames, no more than 6 feet tall and designed not to be climbable. If it meets state or local safety requirements, the association can't prohibit or restrict it. The HOA can set appearance limits, including colors, but it can't prohibit a black mesh enclosure in metal frames.
Gates take the most care
A pool fence only works if its gate closes. Gates get propped open, latches wear and hinges sag. In Lubbock, wind is another factor. The Weather Channel ranks the city among the windiest in the country, with April the windiest month (per KFYO), and a self-closing gate that a strong gust holds open isn't doing its job. Test the gate on a windy day after installation, and ask the company:
- Which way does the gate swing, and does it close and latch on its own from any open position?
- Where is the latch release, and how high?
- What happens to the closer and latch after a few seasons of dust and sun?
- Can the hinge posts take a gate being pushed by wind every day?
The gates page covers hinge posts, swing direction and gate repair.
Insurance
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, a fence with a locking gate around the pool is something many insurers require, and many home policies include minimal or no pool liability coverage. Call your agent before the pool fills, not after.
For pool fence costs alongside other fence types, see the Lubbock fence cost guide, and for height and corner-lot limits by town, the fence rules comparison. Back to the Lubbock fence company home page.
Common questions
Do you legally have to have a fence around a pool in Texas?
It depends on the pool. Texas Health and Safety Code chapter 757 requires a pool yard enclosure at apartment complexes and at pools owned or maintained by a property owners' association. For a home pool in Lubbock, the city's adopted 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code sets barrier rules, with a local amendment for pools that have a powered safety cover.
Can a pool cover take the place of a pool fence in Lubbock?
For one- and two-family homes and townhouses, Lubbock's amendment to Section 305.1 says the barrier sections don't apply where a pool has a powered safety cover complying with ASTM F1346, and a spa or hot tub has a lockable safety cover complying with the same standard. Confirm with Building Safety before relying on a cover.
Can my HOA stop me from putting up a mesh pool fence?
Generally no. Texas Property Code §202.022 bars a property owners' association from prohibiting a pool enclosure of transparent mesh or clear panels in metal frames, up to 6 feet tall and designed not to be climbable, if it meets safety requirements. The HOA can limit colors but can't prohibit black mesh in metal frames.
What is the cheapest fence to put around a pool?
In HomeGuide's national figures, galvanized steel wire mesh runs about $10 to $15 per foot installed, and mesh pool fencing about $10 to $30. Chain link is cheap too, but state law bans it for new apartment and HOA pool enclosures, so check your situation first.
How much does a pool fence cost?
HomeGuide puts the national average at $10 to $45 per foot installed, or about $2,000 to $13,500 for 200 to 300 feet, with a typical project near $7,800 (checked October 2026). Glass runs far higher.
Sources (10)
- Lubbock Code Art. 28.18: 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and local amendments (ecode360)
- Lubbock UDC §39.02.020: pool location, setbacks and enclosures (ecode360)
- Texas Health and Safety Code §757.003: enclosure for pool yard
- Texas Property Code §202.022: swimming pool enclosures in HOAs
- HomeGuide: pool fence cost (Feb 3, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance: swimming pool insurance tips
- City of Lubbock Building Safety: FAQs (phone numbers)
- Wolfforth Code Ch. 3, Art. 3.16: Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ecode360)
- City of Shallowater: building permits and inspections (pool form, accessory buildings)
- KFYO: Lubbock on The Weather Channel's windiest-cities list
Last updated 2026-10-24