Swimming pool and spas

The Victorian Government has inspection, maintenance and compliance requirements for property owners to improve swimming pool and spa safety.

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VBA's Swimming pools and spas guide

The Victorian Government has introduced new requirements to improve swimming pool and spa safety, including inspection, maintenance and compliance requirements for property owners.

Why is the law changing

Pools and spas are the most common location of drownings for children aged five and under, and on average four children die in home pools and spas every year.

Eighty per cent of swimming pool and spa barriers in Victoria aren't meeting safety standards. The new state-wide regulations aim to make pools and spas safer for everyone, particularly kids aged five and under.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

If you own a property with a permanent or portable pool or spa, you need to register.
If you rent a property with a pool or spa, your landlord needs to register. If you have a temporary pool or spa, ask your landlord to register it.
Where a pool or spa is on common property managed by an owner’s corporation, the owner’s corporation must register the pool with Council.
Property agents need to get in contact with property owners to make sure they register.
Once you’ve registered and Council advises you of the construction date and which barrier standard applies, an inspection is required to check that your barrier complies with the applicable standard.
Only certain registered and qualified persons can inspect your barrier.
When arranging an inspection, you can organise a private inspector or building surveyor. You can search for a registered building practitioner authorised to carry out inspections on the VBA website.
There is no set fee for a safety barrier inspection. You should obtain quotes for this work from at least two practitioners before you proceed with the inspection.
Please note: Council does not provide recommendations of inspectors or provide this service.
The following are classified as a pool or spa and need to be registered:
- in-ground pool or spa with or without barriers
- above-ground pool or spa, including inflatable pools that can hold more than 30 cm of water
- indoor pools/spas
- bathing and wading pools with more than 30 cm of water.
You don't need to register:
- fountains and fish ponds
- spas and baths in your bathroom.
The new law aims to make pool and spa barriers safe. So, if your pool and spa are:
- within the same safety barrier, you only need to register once
- in separate barriers, you need to register each barrier.
When setting-up a small inflatable children’s pool in your backyard, you must register it with Council if:
- the pool can contain water to a depth of greater than 30 cm
- is in place for more than three consecutive days.
After the inspection, if the pool and/or spa barrier complies with the applicable barrier standard, the inspector will issue you with a Certificate of Barrier Compliance.
This certificate can be lodged via your Online Services account, and a lodgement fee is payable.
If you need help making a lodgement, you can contact the building team:
Email: helpbuilding@portphillip.vic.gov.au
Mail: Private Bag 3, St Kilda Victoria 3182

VBA Pool and Spa Safety Barrier Checklists

More information

For more information and queries about the new pool and spa safety standards introduced by the Victorian Government, as well as safety barrier guides, visit the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) website.

For anything not covered by the VBA, ask our Building team on My Port Phillip.

Swimming pool and spas

Why is the law changing

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Who needs to register?

How do I arrange an inspection?

What is classified as a pool or spa?

I have a pool and a spa - do I register twice?

What about small inflatable children’s pools?

What happens after the inspection?

VBA Pool and Spa Safety Barrier Checklists

More information

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