Swimming Pools, Spas and Safety Barriers

Private swimming pools and spas are regulated to reduce the risk of children drowning.

Owners and occupiers must keep the safety barrier compliant, effective and in good working order at all times.

What is Covered

A swimming pool, spa or portable pool that can contain water more than 300 millimetres deep must have a compliant safety barrier.

All swimming pools and spas require building approval.

Before Installation

Check planning, building, wastewater and easement constraints.
Apply for the required building approval before installing the pool or spa.
Design the safety barrier, gates, doors and surrounding area to the applicable standard.
Keep climbable objects, furniture and vegetation away from the barrier.
Arrange the Shire inspection and provide completion documents when required.

Building Permit for a Barrier

The pool or spa still needs building approval. Since 21 June 2024, most isolation safety barriers for private pools and spas are exempt from a separate building permit.

The exemption is limited and does not remove the requirement for a compliant barrier or local government inspection.

Check with the Shire for your design.

Completion and First Inspection

The responsible builder must provide the BA7 Notice of Completion within seven days after completing the approved work or stage.

Contact the Shire promptly to arrange the initial barrier inspection.

A new or previously uninspected barrier must be inspected within the statutory timeframe after the local government becomes aware it is complete.

Ongoing Inspections

The Shire must inspect pool and spa barriers at intervals of no more than four years. If the barrier is non-compliant, the owner or occupier must correct it by the required date and a reinspection will be arranged.

Your Ongoing Responsibilities

keep gates self-closing and self-latching and never prop them open
maintain fences, doors, locks and latches
keep the non-climbable zone clear
supervise children around water; a barrier does not replace supervision
tell the Shire if the pool or spa is removed or no longer capable of holding more than 300 millimetres of water