Guide to Swimming Pool Regulations in Victoria

So you’re ready to install a swimming pool, but do you have all the information on hand to make sure you’re doing so properly and in accordance with local standards? Understandably, there are a range of rules and regulations when it comes to installing swimming pools in residential backyards. They exist for a myriad of reasons, but health and safety are the number one priority. These regulations change from state to state so it’s important to have a clear understanding of the rules and specifications you need to abide by for your specific situation. If you live in Victoria, you’ve come to the right place – we’ve put together the ultimate guide for everything you need to know about Victorian swimming pool regulations.

Getting a Pool Permit Victoria

Before anything else, you firstly will need to register your pool with the local council. As of June 1st 2020, any pool or spa built must be registered with your local council within 30 days of receiving either your occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection. If your pool or spa was built before that but hasn’t yet been registered, ensure you do so immediately and that you have information on hand for when it was built – although you may have to pay a fine for late registration!

Pool Fence Rules Victoria

Victorian pool fencing regulations tend to depend on factors like the size of the pool, and often will refer to fencing as the ‘safety barrier’. If your pool has a depth of 30cm or more (about the length of a school ruler, so it’s highly likely), then you will be obligated to surround your pool with a safety barrier. Newer pools built from 2010 onwards require fencing on all four sides of the pool, meaning you cannot have fencing that encloses the pool onto the side of the house where there is direct access. However, if there is a window for instance, this can be remedied by fitting child-resistant metal screening or bars and ensuring that the window can only be opened 125mm wide at most. There also cannot be any climbable objects near the barrier, including pot plants, eskies, tables and chairs, and more. The fence itself cannot have any footholds that can be used for climbing over, and if it is a panelled fence, there cannot be a distance over 100mm between panels.

Pool Fence Height Victoria

The pool fencing itself must be at least 1.2 metres high with gates that are self-closing and self-latching for maximum safety. In fact, you should never prop open or leave open pool gates – this is actually illegal! The latching device itself cannot be at the bottom of the gate and must be at least 1500mm off the ground, and the gate should always open outwards. To avoid any young children gaining access to the pool from underneath the fencing, always ensure there is only an absolute maximum gap of 100mm between the ground and the bottom of the barrier and gate. If boundary fencing is used, the minimum height jumps up to 1.8m tall.

Arrange a Pool Inspection Victoria

Once you have registered your pool with the local council, you will need to organise a time for a building surveyor or inspector to come by and assess your pool. They will then examine your pool to ensure it is up to code and issue you with a certificate of compliance upon completion. The council will let you know when this first certificate is due. You will need to lodge it with your local council within 30 days of the certificate being issued to you.

Repeat Pool Inspections Victoria

As of 1st December 2019, Victorian pool fencing inspections need to be conducted every four years to ensure your pool and its barrier remains up to scratch. Remember to schedule your next inspection at the four-year mark and stay on top of your pool’s safety.

Here at Summertime Pools, our service is end-to-end meaning we assist you with everything from picking out the pool you want, all the way to on-site handover, setup and ongoing phone support. Browse our range now and let’s get you your dream pool!