Short answer: Florida law requires a minimum of 48 inches (4 ft). Child safety experts and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend 60 inches (5 ft) as the practical standard for protecting children ages 1–5.
Why the 4-foot minimum isn't enough
The 48-inch (4 ft) requirement in Florida Statute §515.27 was set as a baseline, not an ideal. The problem: active toddlers — particularly children ages 3–5 — can scale a 4-foot fence with surprising speed when motivated.
A study published in Pediatrics found that children who had been in or near pools before developed the motor skills to climb a standard 4-foot fence by age 3.5 in many cases. The fence still creates a meaningful barrier, but a 60-inch (5 ft) fence significantly reduces that risk by making climbing much harder, even for agile preschoolers.
Choosing the right fence height
Leading removable mesh fence manufacturers typically offer 3.5, 4, and 5 ft heights. For families with children under age 6, the 5-foot (60-inch) height is the recommended choice. Curved I-beam post designs also eliminate the footholds that make many fence styles climbable regardless of height.
Height alone isn't the whole picture
A fence that's tall but climbable is less safe than a shorter fence with no climbing surface. The design of the fence matters as much as the height:
Gate height and latch position
Florida law requires the gate latch to be either 54 inches or higher from the ground, or placed on the pool side of the gate. This prevents toddlers from easily operating the latch. At 5 feet of fence height, a compliant latch placement is automatically met.
Permit note: Some Florida municipalities require a permit for pool fence installation. The fence height must match the permitted specification. Always check with your local building department before installation.
Our recommendation
Install a 60-inch (5 ft) removable mesh fence if you have children ages 1–6. The cost difference between 4 ft and 5 ft is modest; the safety difference is meaningful. If your HOA or local code restricts height, document the restriction and add additional layers of protection (door alarms, supervision protocols).