Why aluminum
Aluminum does not rust. A chip in the powder coat on an aluminum fence is a cosmetic problem, while the same chip on steel lets rust in. That makes aluminum the easy choice for pool areas, for fence lines that sit in sprinkler spray, and for owners who do not want to touch up paint every spring.
The trade-off is strength. Aluminum flexes more than steel, so it is a poor choice for wide driveway gates and for fences that big dogs will jump on. For those we use steel.
Self-closing hinge and magnetic latchPool barrier rules
Westminster requires a building permit for pools with water deeper than 24 inches, and for hot tubs and spas. The city's zoning code also says fences and swimming pools have to follow the building code the city has adopted. The model pool barrier rules in the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code set the details most inspectors look for:
- A barrier at least 48 inches tall.
- Gates that open away from the pool, close on their own and latch on their own.
- A latch release at least 54 inches above the bottom of the gate, or placed on the pool side where a child cannot reach through.
- Openings small enough that a 4-inch sphere will not pass through.
- Limits on horizontal members that a child could use as a ladder.
We build pool fences to those details and check them against the inspector's checklist for your address before the panels are ordered, because some details change with the panel design.
HOAs and open-space lots
Aluminum panels come in the same styles as steel: flat-top, pressed-point, spear-top, double rail. Many Westminster HOAs specify black, a style and a maximum height. Lots that back onto Standley Lake Regional Park, Big Dry Creek trail or other city open space often have extra rules about fence height and openness on the open-space side. Ask your HOA for its design guidelines before you choose a style.
Planning the fence lineInstalling on a deck or patio
Pool fences often run across concrete decks. On concrete we use surface-mount posts with a base plate anchored into the slab, or core-drill the slab and set the post in grout. Base plates are easier to install; cored posts look cleaner and are stronger. On a wood or composite deck we bolt posts to the framing, never just to the deck boards.
Height and code in the rest of the yard
Away from the pool, aluminum fences follow the same Westminster rules as any other fence: 36 inches in front of the house, 42 inches for open ornamental designs, six feet in side and rear yards, and a permit over 30 inches. Full text in Westminster Municipal Code 11-4-6(P).
Aluminum fencing, installed
$3,550to$18,800
Project range
HomeAdvisor · checked Oct 2026 · national
Aluminum, materials
$7to$32
per linear foot
Angi · national
