2019 Mississippi Code
Title 45 - Public Safety and Good Order
Chapter 43 - William Lee Montjoy Pool Safety Act
§ 45-43-13. Requirements regarding doors that open into pool yard
(1) A door, sliding glass door, or French door may not open directly into a pool yard if the date of electrical service for initial construction of the building or pool is on or after July 1, 2012.
(2) A door, sliding glass door, or French door may open directly into a pool yard if the date of electrical service for initial construction of the building or pool is before July 1, 2012, and the pool yard enclosure complies with subsection (3), (4) or (5) of this section, as applicable.
(3) If a door of a building, other than a sliding glass door or screen door, opens into the pool yard, the door must have a:
(a) Latch that automatically engages when the door is closed;
(b) Spring-loaded door-hinge pin, automatic door closer, or similar device to cause the door to close automatically; and
(c) Keyless bolting device that is installed not less than thirty-six (36) inches or more than forty-eight (48) inches above the interior floor.
(4) If French doors of a building open to the pool yard, one (1) of the French doors must comply with subsection (3)(a) of this section and the other door must have:
(a) A keyed dead bolt or keyless bolting device capable of insertion into the doorjamb above the door, and a keyless bolting device capable of insertion into the floor or threshold; or
(b) A bolt with at least a three-fourths (¾) inch throw installed inside the door and operated from the edge of the door that is capable of insertion into the doorjamb above the door and another bolt with at least a three-fourths (¾) inch throw installed inside the door and operated from the edge of the door that is capable of insertion into the floor or threshold.
(5) If a sliding glass door of a building opens into the pool yard, the sliding glass door must have:
(a) A sliding-door handle latch or sliding-door security bar that is installed not more than forty-eight (48) inches above the interior floor; and
(b) A sliding-door pin lock that is installed not more than forty-eight (48) inches above the interior floor.
(6) A door, sliding glass door, or French door that opens into a pool yard from an area of a building that is not used by residents and that has no access to an area outside the pool yard is not required to have a lock, latch, dead bolt, or keyless bolting device.
(7) A keyed dead bolt, keyless bolting device, sliding-door pin lock, or sliding-door security bar installed before July 1, 2012, may be installed not more than fifty-four (54) inches from the floor.
(8) A keyed dead bolt or keyless dead bolt, as described by Section 45-43-3, installed in a dwelling on or after July 1, 2012, must have a bolt with a throw of not less than one (1) inch.
