Short answer
Yes, in most townships here, but the doors that open into the pool area need protection. Abington's pool requirements accept the house as one side of the barrier if those doors have alarms (the sheet calls for a 30-second alarm that resets automatically) or the pool has an ASTM F1346 power safety cover. Upper Dublin also requires door alarms when the house is part of the barrier. Montgomery Township and Upper Moreland count a building wall toward the 4-ft enclosure.
Abington's pool barrier rules
- Barrier at least 48 in high, with no more than 2 in of gap at grade.
- Openings small enough that a 4-in sphere can't pass through.
- Pedestrian gates open outward, away from the pool, and are self-closing and self-latching; a latch release lower than 54 in goes on the pool side.
- The house can form one side if doors into the pool area have alarms, or if the pool has an ASTM F1346 power safety cover.
- Pools sit at least 10 ft from side and rear lines, not in a swale, and not within 10 vertical ft of power lines; in-ground pools need an engineered plot plan.
Abington's building code adds material standards for the enclosure (§ 421.9): wood pickets of 3/4-in stock spaced no more than 2 in; iron or aluminum pickets at least 1 in square, spaced no more than 4 in; chain link of at least 11 gauge; and solid enclosures no taller than 6 ft. That same section says natural barriers and pool covers don't count as the enclosure, which sits awkwardly with the requirements sheet's cover option. We ask the building department which applies to your permit.
How nearby townships treat the house wall
| Municipality | Can the house count? | Conditions we found |
|---|---|---|
| Abington | Yes | Door alarms or an ASTM F1346 power safety cover (pool requirements sheet) |
| Upper Dublin (Dresher, Fort Washington) | Yes | Doors into the pool enclosure need alarms; barrier at least 4 ft; a separate $50 fence zoning permit |
| Montgomery Township | Yes | Pool enclosed on all sides by a fence, wall, gate or building at least 4 ft high (§ 230-153) |
| Upper Moreland (Willow Grove) | Yes | Fence and/or building wall at least 4 ft, no openings over 4 in except gates (Ch. 304) |
| Cheltenham | Not addressed in the text we read | Pool completely enclosed by a fence at least 4 ft with a locking gate; inspector approves the material |
| Whitpain (Blue Bell) | Not in our notes | Township adopted the 2018 pool and spa code with a 48-in barrier; we confirm house-wall details with the township |
Checked October 2026 from the cited code and township pool documents. We confirm with the building department before every pool barrier.
Planning the tie-in at the house
- List every door on the wall that faces the pool, including basement walkouts and garage service doors, and plan alarms for each where the township requires them.
- Decide where the fence meets the house. We set a post tight to the wall so there's no gap a child could slip through.
- Place the gate so it swings out, away from the pool, with the latch on the pool side if it's lower than 54 in.
- Keep grills, AC units and planters away from the outside of the fence, where they could become a step.
Aluminum is the usual pick for a pool barrier, at about $50–85 per foot for 4–5 ft, because pool-style picket spacing meets the 4-in rule and the view stays open. Vinyl privacy works where you want a screen, within the 6-ft cap on solid enclosures in Abington.
Bring the pool contractor's layout to the estimate and we'll mark where the house can carry the barrier and where it can't.
Common questions
Does a garage wall count the same as the house?
The Abington sheet speaks of the house. If a garage wall would form part of the barrier, ask the building department how it's treated, especially if it has a service door into the pool area.
Do I need a separate permit for the pool fence?
In Upper Dublin, yes: a $50 fence zoning permit on top of the pool permit. In Abington, the pool permit application has to show the method of fencing and latching.
What about an above-ground pool?
Several townships let the pool wall count if it's tall enough and the ladder locks or comes out. See our pool fence page for the basics.