Pools and spas registration

Registration costs are applicable which include the Initial Pool/Spa Registration fee, Initial Certificate of Barrier Compliance Registration fee and Records Search fee (if applicable).

Payment is made via credit card through a simple online form.

Register and pay online

To register you simply need to provide your name, property address and contact details. You will need to upload any building permit in relation to your pool/spa (if available).

Under the new Victorian laws, Councils are responsible for determining when your pool/spa was constructed and therefore which safety standard applies.

Council will conduct an archive search to verify the age of your pool/spa. This is covered by registration fee.

If the age of your pool/spa cannot be verified, the current safety standard will be applied.

Find out more about Registration on the Victorian Building Authority website.

All existing pools and spas were to be registered by 1 November 2020. Any new pools or spas built after 1 November 2020 must be registered within 30 days after issue of occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection.

Once you have registered your pool, Council will confirm via email:

• the age of your pool/spa; 
• the level of barrier standards you must meet; and
• the date when you must submit your initial certificate of barrier compliance with Council or when your next certificate of barrier compliance is due if provided when registering your pool.

Please Note: Certificate of barrier compliance inspection dates are set based on your pool or spa construction date.

An inspection of your pool or spa barrier can be carried out by:

• a Council Pool Inspector: to book an inspection, please call 5832 9730; 
• a registered building surveyor or building inspector; or 
• any registered building practitioner whose registration authorises the carrying out of inspections of pools or spa, including the associated barriers.

Note: If you constructed a pool or spa after 1 November 2020, the registered building surveyor who conducts a mandatory inspection following the construction of a pool or spa barrier can also conduct the inspection and issue a certificate of barrier compliance.

To find a registered Pool Inspector you can use the Victorian Building Authority website. When searching, select Type of Work: "Building Inspector - Pool Safety". Alternatively you can search in Google for 'Pool Inspections Shepparton'.

There is no set fee for a safety barrier inspection. The Victorian Building Authority recommends you obtain quotes from at least two practitioners before you proceed with the inspection.

Read more about Inspection & Compliance on the Victorian Building Authority website.

Once Council has given you the relevant barrier standard you can use the corresponding checklist below prior to your pool inspection.

• Checklist 1
  Barrier Standard - PART 9A BUILDING REGULATIONS 2018 AND AS 1926.1-1993
• Checklist 2
  Barrier Standard - AS 1926.1 - 1986 or AS 1926.1 - 1993
• Checklist 3
  Barrier Standard AS 1926.1 – 2007 or AS 1926.1 - 2012

After inspecting the pool or spa safety barrier, the inspector will either:

1. Issue you with a certificate of compliance if your pool/spa barrier meets the required standard;
   
   OR
2. If the barrier does not comply with the applicable barrier standard, the inspector will:
   • issue a written notice of repairs needed (within a maximum of 60 days, when they will re-inspect);
     
     OR
   • issue an immediate certificate of barrier non-compliance if the barrier poses a significant or immediate risk to life or safety, or is not likely to be repaired within 60 days.

The issued Certificate of Barrier Compliance or Certificate of Barrier Non Compliance must be lodged with Council. This is an online process.

This is a requirement regardless of whether the inspection is carried out by the Council or a Private Practitioner. The certificate must be lodged with 30 days of being issued.

This is a mandatory process and subject to a Statutory fee.

You can engage a private contractor to undertake any required repairs.

It is recommended you obtain quotes from at least two practitioners before you proceed with engaging a contractor to undertake works.

A certificate of pool and spa barrier compliance certifies that a pool or spa safety barrier complies with the applicable barrier standard.

The following persons can conduct barrier inspections and issue certificates of barrier compliance:

• a registered building surveyor or a registered building inspector;
• a swimming pool and spa inspector.

Read more about compliance certificates at the Victorian Building Authority website.

Under the Victorian law, the due date for lodging your certificate of compliance depends on the age of your pool/spa safety barrier.

Statutory fines are applicable to owners who fail to provide a valid certificate of compliance by the due date.

Please note: Once you have received your compliance certificate, please lodge it with Council as soon as possible. Compliance Certificates are valid for 30 days from the time of issue, so make sure you lodge with Council to avoid another inspection.

You can lodge your certificate of compliance online.

A lodgement fee is required to be paid when lodging your certificate.

Lodge and Pay Online

A formal request must be made in writing to Council requesting an extension or using the below form.

In accordance with Regulation 147Z, following a request from an owner, Council may extend the due date by which an owner must lodge a CBC, if it is satisfied that:

• the owner has a reasonable excuse why it was not possible to lodge the CBC by the due date; or
• the owner has arranged an inspection of the barrier; or
• the owner has arranged to rectify any non-compliances previously identified by the swimming pool inspector; or
• building work is occurring on the land and as a result, an inspection would not be appropriate; or
• a building notice, building order or emergency order has been issued in relation to the swimming pool barrier.

Council will inform the owner in writing of the outcome of the request.

This extension can only be granted for up to six months at any one time. Council may grant additional extensions in relation to the same registered swimming pool (for example, if building work is continuing on the site).

Councils are not obligated to grant an extension, even where an owner has arranged to have the barrier inspected, rectified or where building work is occurring. There may be instances where, in the judgement of the relevant council, a request for an extension is refused and the owner penalised for failing to provide a CBC by the due date.

Lodge Extension Request

To meet the requirements of the new Victorian laws, you must update your certificate of registration every four years.

No. You only need to register once. After four years, you will need to arrange another inspection to obtain a Certificate of Compliance stating that your pool/spa barrier still meets required standards.

The new Certificate of Compliance must then be lodged with Council.

You can book a Council Pool Inspector to conduct the inspection and issue a certificate of barrier compliance. Call Council on 5832 9730.

An inspection of your pool or spa barrier can also be carried out by a registered building surveyor or building inspector or any registered building practitioner whose registration authorises the carrying out of inspections of pools or spa, including the associated barriers.

If you have removed your pool/spa, or are wanting to and require further information, you will need to notify Council to arrange an inspection verifying the removal. The fee to carry out this process is $177.00 - This will be invoiced to you prior to the inspection taking place during the Decommission Process.

Some people may decide they no longer want a pool/spa or that the cost of required repairs is too great.

You may require a building permit to ensure your pool is safely removed.

If you are considering removing your pool/spa, please contact Council for further assistance on 03 5832 9730.

Yes, you are required to register your pool or spa even if it does not contain any water presently.

Yes. Under the Victorian Government's new laws, relocatable pools or spas are covered by the new laws if they remain erected for three consecutive days or more.

This covers any pool/spa that is capable of containing water to a depth of greater than 300 mm and can include inflatable children's pools if they are erected for more than three consecutive days.

If the relocatable pool/spa is erected for more than three consecutive days it must be registered with Council by the fourth day it is erected.

A pool inspector can issue a non-compliance certificate in the event of serious safety issues or if repairs have not been made following an inspection.

The pool inspector is responsible for lodging the non-compliance certificate with Council.

Lodge a non-compliance certificate

Please contact Council on 03 5832 9730 to check whether your pool has been correctly listed on the register.

If it has been registered, Council will advise when your next Certificate of Compliance is due.

A building permit is required to be obtained prior to the installation of any swimming pool or spa as specified above, that is capable of containing a depth of water exceeding 300mm (30cm) and to install and/or alter an existing swimming pool safety barrier. You will be required to submit a design and site plan fully detailing the type and location of the barriers which include but are not limited to:

• Fences
• Walls
• Barriers
• Palings
• Doors
• Windows
• Gates
• Locks
• Latches
• Catches
• Bolts
• Fly screens that restrict access to the swimming pool or spa
• Self-closing devices etc.

For more information and helpful resources see the Victorian Building Authority website.

It is the property owner's responsibility to have their pool barrier registered and inspected, and to lodge the certificate of compliance.

Check with the property owner or your property manager to find out if the property you live at has been properly registered by 1 November 2020.