Fence glossary · Code & Permits
Self-latching latch
A latch that engages automatically when the gate swings shut, without being lifted, pushed or turned by hand. Pool barrier code pairs it with a self-closing gate and specifies where the latch sits — high on the outside face, or lower on the pool side behind a shielded section of barrier.
Two mechanisms do the work in practice. A gravity latch drops a bar into a catch as the gate arrives, and a magnetic latch pulls a bolt into a keeper as the gate comes within range. Magnetic latches are the usual choice on pool enclosures because they still catch when the gate closes slowly, where a gravity latch can bounce off the catch and leave the gate resting shut but unlatched. Most are key-lockable, which is a separate function from self-latching and does not substitute for it.
Latch height is the part homeowners are surprised by. The code sets a height precisely so the latch is out of a small child's reach from outside the barrier. Where site conditions force a lower latch, it goes on the pool side, and the barrier around it has to be solid or close-meshed so a hand cannot reach through to operate it. The figure that applies to your property is set by the code edition your municipality has adopted, so we confirm it with the code office rather than working from a number carried over from another township.
Whatever the mechanism, a latch only self-latches if the gate arrives square. Post plumb, hinge tension and the gap at the latch side all feed into it, and all three drift as a wood gate settles or a post heaves through a freeze-thaw cycle. It is worth checking the latch on a pool gate once a season the same way you would check a smoke detector, and adjusting the hinge or the strike before it becomes a failed inspection.
