Swimming pools and spas

In Victoria the design, construction and installation of swimming pools, spas and their safety barriers are subject to strict building requirements under the Building Regulations 2018

 Permanent Safety barriers are required for:

• In ground swimming pools and spas
• Indoor swimming pools and spas
• Above ground pools and spas (including those with a lockable lid)
• Inflatable and relocatable pools capable of holding more than 30cm of water
• Hot tubs and Jacuzzis capable of holding more than 30cm of water.

Bird baths, fish ponds and fountains are not used principally for swimming, paddling or wading and do not require safety barriers.

For more information on pools and barriers visit Victorian Building Authority or view a fact sheet on Pool Regulations here (PDF, 2MB) 

On 1 December 2019, new legislation to improve swimming pool and spa safety came into effect in Victoria.

It is now mandatory for owners of land where a swimming pool or spa is located to register their pool or spa with the relevant council.  

If you have a pool or spa, you will receive a letter from Council outlining the registration process. 

Once Council receives registration, we check the year that the pool or spa was built. Following this, you will be sent a confirmation of the age of your pool or spa along with a self assessment checklist.  With this, you can immediately check your pool fence/safety barrier and have it compliant before an inspector attends.

• Pools from pre -1991 or pools that have no permit or final inspection need to have the compliance check to Council by June 2022.
• Pools from 1991-30/4/2010 will have until June 2023
• Pools after May 2010 have until June 2024.

You are required to have your pool or spa inspected once every four years.  To organise an inspection please see 'Organising a pool Inspection' below.

For more information, visit the Victorian Building Authority website.

All swimming pools and spas constructed prior to April 2020 should now be registered.  At registration you would have been provided with the year that a Barrier Compliance Certificate is to be provided by, and a relevant checklist based on the age of your pool or spa.

Fees relating to pool and spa registration and their compliance are set by the State Government under the Building Amendment Swimming Pool and Spa Regulations 2019.

If you have a new pool or spa you are required to register it with Council within 30 days of the Certificate of Final Inspection.  The one-off fee payable is $34.20 (for 2023/24).  

You can complete the registration form and make an online payment via our Greenlight Building Portal at the button below. If you are a first time user, follow the prompts to create a new account.

Register via the Greenlight Building Portal

If you are selling a property and have failed to register a pool or spa constructed prior to April 2020, the fee is now 10 Penalty Units (a Penalty Unit for 2023/24 is $192.31).

Under the new legislation you are required to arrange for an inspection of your pool or spa every four years. This enables you to obtain a Certificate of Pool or Spa Compliance which certifies that your pool or spa complies with the relevant safety standards.

Due to Councils current workload all inspections need to be carried out by a licensed pool inspector, and we recommend that you get a quotation for this work before proceeding. 

Once your pool or spa inspection has been completed you will need to lodge your Certificate of Pool/Spa Barrier Compliance with Council within 30 days.  Please refer to Lodge a Barrier Inspection Compliance Certificate below.

Having used a private pool inspector to conduct your four yearly pool or spa barrier compliance check, you now need to lodge your Certificate of Pool or Spa Compliance within 30 days of it being issued, and pay the associated fee of $21.90.

To lodge your certificate please complete the application form via the Greenlight Building Portal at the button below. If you are a first time user, follow the prompts to create a new account.

Lodge your certificate via the Greenlight Building Portal

Before the barrier to your pool or spa is inspected for your Certificate of Pool or Spa Compliance, be sure to use the relevant self-assessment checklist that was provided at the time of your pool registration, or as found below:

• Pool and Spa Safety Barrier Self-Assessment Checklist 1 
• Pool and Spa Safety Barrier Self-Assessment Checklist 2 
• Pool and Spa Safety Barrier Self-Assessment Checklist 3

This will ensure that your pool or spa has the best chance of passing the inspection and having a compliance certificate issued.

Further fees will apply if a pool barrier non-compliance is issued by a pool inspector.

Please note:  Pools built without a permit will be required to meet current barrier standards (Checklist 3)