Pool Fence Regulations In Victoria, Australia

Whether you have recently moved into a property with a swimming pool, or live in a house with a pool / spa it’s important to know the laws and regulations around pool fences in Victoria.

At Melbourne Pool Fence Inspections, we’ve put together this helpful guide based on the State of Victoria’s pool fence safety regulations so that you can ensure your pool (or planned construction of a pool) is fully compliant with the law.

Every 4 years your pool fence needs to be inspected by a qualified professional, and then this information needs to be passed on to your local council. If your property requires a pool fence inspection, don’t hesitate to contact Melbourne Pool Fence Inspections today – we’ll send one of our fully certified and highly experienced professionals to your property at a date and time that works best for you.

What are the barrier requirements for pools and spas in Victoria?

Any swimming pool or spa that can physically contain water at a depth of more than 30cm (300mm) must have a compliant safety barrier that restricts access to the pool area for children under the age of five. This law applies to:

• In-ground pools and spas
• Above-ground pools and spas (this includes relocatable and inflatable pools at a depth of 30cm (300mm) or more, regardless of whether they require assembly on site
• Indoor pools and spas
• Bathing and wading pools that have the capacity to contain more than 30cm (300mm) depth of water

Victoria pool fence regulations – what if you already have a spa?

As the owner of a property with a pool or spa, you’re legally obliged to maintain the operation of the safety barrier that prevents easy access to the pool or spa. As such, it might be worth referring to whichever of the following checklists applies to your specific pool/spa installation date:

• Checklist 1 (for pools and spas installed before 8 April 1991) (PDF, 674.37 KB)
• Checklist 2 (for pools and spas installed between 8 April 1991 and 30 April 2010) (PDF, 595.22 KB)
• Checklist 3 (for pools and spas installed from 1 May 2010) (PDF, 3341.21 KB)

There are also rules and regulations around having work done on your existing pool safety barrier. If you are carrying out any form of renovations or amendments that affect your pool fence, you might require a permit to be issued.

Planning to build a pool or spa on your property?

The State of Victoria has strict requirements around the design, construction and installation of new swimming pools and spas (as well as the safety barriers that surround them). This is in accordance with Building Regulations 2018.

The most notable requirements your designs must adhere to include:

• The pool, spa and/or safety barrier must be constructed by a builder who is registered in an appropriate category or class, or an owner-builder who has an owner-builder certificate of consent.
• The pool fence must have self-latching and self-closing pool gates.
• All components of the safety barrier must comply with AS1926.1-2012.

Contact Melbourne Pool Fence Inspections

If you’re unsure about the compliance of your pool fence, if you’re unsure whether it’s been reported as safe with the local authorities or if you’d like to know more about the inspection process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our professional team will be happy to answer any questions you have, and arrange a convenient date/time for an inspection.