Victorian Building Regulations
New regulations to improve private pool and spa safety commenced on 1 December 2019. Since 2000, 20 young children have drowned in private pools and spas in Victoria where the coroner found the safety barrier was non-compliant.
To reduce the chance of further tragedies occurring regulations require:
Landowners to register their private pools and spas with their local council and,
arrange for the periodic inspection and certification of their safety barriers.
The inspection and certification must be undertaken by a registered building surveyor or inspector and the barrier must be re-certified every four years.
All swimming pools and spas must have a compliant safety barrier to restrict access to the pool area by children under the age of five. Barriers are required for:
in-ground pools and spas
above-ground pools and spas
indoor pools and spas
relocatable, inflatable or any other pool/spa that can hold at least 300mm of water
An independent inspection is required to confirm that your pool/spa is safety compliant.
For Pools and Spas Built:
30 June 1994 or earlier
Compliance by 1 June 2022
1 July 1994 to 30 April 2010
Compliance by 1 June 2023
1 May 2010 to 31 Oct 2020
Compliance by 1 June 2024
From 1 November 2020
At time of registration
