[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Township Council) of the Township of Bridgewater 9-16-1974 by Ord. No. 74-23. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fences and Retaining Walls — Se Ch. 196.
A. 
Word usage. For the purposes of this chapter, all words used in the present tense include the future tense; all words in the plural number include the singular number; and all words in the singular number include the plural number, unless the natural construction of the word indicates otherwise.
B. 
Definitions. Certain words and terms used in this chapter are to be interpreted as defined below:
FENCE
An artificially constructed barrier of any material or combination of materials erected to enclose, screen, or separate areas. A fence shall include all gates. Fences shall be considered as being incidental structures to a principal permitted use or to a principal permitted structure or principal permitted building and are permitted in all zones in accordance with the criteria set forth in this section.
[Amended 6-7-2018 by Ord. No. 18-06]
SELF-CLOSING GATE
A movable barrier commonly swinging on hinges that closes automatically a passage through a wall, fence or barrier.
SELF-LATCHING GATE
A movable barrier commonly swinging on hinges that closes and fastens by use of a movable bar or other similar type fastening device automatically.
SWIMMING POOL
An outdoor tank or receptacle built of concrete, plastic or other material, designed for swimming, usually of a rectangular or circled shape. In addition to its common dictionary definition and usage, it shall include any and all existing or future man-made ponds which can be filled with water or which are filled with water to a depth of 24 inches or more.
[Amended 6-7-2018 by Ord. No. 18-06]
UNFENCED SWIMMING POOL
Any swimming pool, as defined herein, which does not comply with the requirements of § 195-2C hereof.
Except as hereinafter provided, the following general requirements shall apply:
A. 
No owner of land in this Township shall construct, maintain or use and no such owner shall suffer or permit construction, maintenance or use of an unfenced swimming pool.
B. 
No lessee and no tenant or other occupier of land in this Township shall construct, maintain or use and no such lessee, tenant or other occupier shall suffer or permit the construction, maintenance or use of an unfenced swimming pool.
C. 
All fences and gates enclosing swimming pools shall conform to the currently adopted building codes in the State of New Jersey. Those swimming pool fences which do not conform to the adopted building codes shall be considered to be an unfenced swimming pool.
[Amended 6-7-2018 by Ord. No. 18-06]
D. 
All latching devices shall be located either on the pool side of the gate or, if on the outside, at least five feet above ground level and shall be maintained in good working order.
A. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to maintain or use an unfenced swimming pool as set forth in § 195-2A and B hereof.
B. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to tamper with or render inoperative any self-closing or self-latching device on a swimming pool gate.
C. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to place or leave unattended any ladder or climbing device against any swimming pool fence, wall or barrier.
[Amended 10-3-1977 by Ord. No. 77-37]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter and who shall fail to comply with any violation notice shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a penalty of not more than $500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both. Each day that such violation continues beyond the date specified in the violation notice shall constitute a separate offense.