Barrier Compliance Certificates
What is a Certificate of Barrier Compliance (Form 23)
A Certificate of Barrier Compliance is a determination made by an inspector that your safety barrier complies with the applicable standard. The Inspector will issue with a Certificate of Barrier Compliance (also known as Form 23).
It is a requirement that the Certificate of Barrier Compliance is lodged with Council within 30 days from the issue of the Certificate from the Inspector. This is the responsibility of the owner of the property in which the pool or spa is located on.
Please note: A Certificate of Barrier Compliance (Form 23) is required to be lodged every 4 years.
How to lodge your Certificate of Barrier Compliance
Following your 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 needs to be lodged with Council, via your Online Services account, within 30 days of the date of issue.
If you do not have a Online Services account, you will need to register an account online. Council will then be in touch within two business days to confirm your account has been created.
Once your account has been created, you can submit your compliance certificate through Online Services by selecting ‘Apply for a permit’ and then ‘Swimming Pool and Spa Registrations’. There is a fee of $21.10 for each lodgement (for the 2022/23 financial year) set by the Victorian Government to cover administrative costs. You can pay with a credit or debit card or via BPAY when you lodge your certificate.
Once the Certificate of Barrier Compliance Certificate is lodged, you will receive a written notice which confirms the following
- the date the certificate was lodged.
- the date by which the next certificate is required to be lodged, which is four years after the previous certificate.
If you are not able to register online, you can send your compliance certificate by:
Email: helpbuilding@portphillip.vic.gov.au
Mail: Private Bag 3, St Kilda Victoria 3182
What happens if I am issued with a Barrier Non-Compliance Certificate
If your safety barrier is determined to be non-compliant by the inspector, they will lodge a Barrier Non-Compliance Certificate with Council.
When a non-compliance is lodged with Council, Council will notify the owner that a fee is required to be paid of $411.50
Once the Certificate of Non-Compliance is received, Council will review the certificate and may act in the following manner:
- Issue a Barrier Improvement Notice to the owner of the property.
- Conduct an inspection and determine whether a Building Notice or Order is appropriate
Council has an obligation to work with the owner to ensure the non-compliance/s set out in the certificate are addressed to ensure your safety barrier is up to standard and compliant.