Swimming Pools and Spas

Drowning is the most common cause of preventable death for children under five years of age in Victoria. To reduce this incidence of drowning, government legislation requires all pools and spas to have safety barriers installed.

This is applicable to all new swimming pools and existing swimming pools built before 8 April 2001 that was constructed without the installation of pool barriers.

Please note: If you don’t comply with the regulations you risk the lives of family and friends as well as fines of up to $5000.

What is a swimming pool or spa?

A swimming pool means any excavation or structure capable of containing 300mm of water and used principally for swimming, wading, paddling or the like including a bathing or blow-up wading pool, or spa.

New Swimming Pools

All new swimming pools require a building permit prior to commencement of works. The permit will include the specification and construction details for a compliant pool barrier in accordance to AS1926.2007.

Please note: You must obtain a valid building permit before any work commences, careful planning of the pool location will ensure that effective barriers can be installed and obtain a Relevant Building Surveyor final certificate prior to the pool being filled with water.

Further details on the requirements on new pool barriers can be found on the Building Commissions website.

Existing Swimming Pools

Existing swimming pools constructed before 8 April 1991 require the installation of pool barriers in accordance to Part 7 of the Building Regulations 2006 and AS1926.2003. 

We have a program for inspecting these properties to ensure the barriers have been installed correctly. 

Any issues are identified and in collaboration with the property owners the work is rectified, re-inspected and a compliance certificate is issued.

Existing pools built prior to  8 April 1991

Ensure that you have complying pool barriers in place, assessment on the compliance of the pool barriers must be undertaken by a Registered Building Inspector or Building Surveyor. 

If your property has not been inspected yet and you are concerned about any aspects of the pool barriers please contact our Building Development and Compliance unit on 9249 4000 to arrange an inspection of the pool barriers.

Further Information

For more information call the Building Department 9249 4603 or email buildinghelpdesk@brimbank.vic.gov.au