If you are the owner of land on which a pool or spa is located, you must register your permanent pool and or spa with your council by:

A pool or spa remains registered until it is removed from the register.

After registering your pool or spa, the relevant council is required to send you written notification confirming:

• that your pool or spa has been registered
• the date of construction of your pool or spa and the applicable barrier standard
• your right to appeal to the Building Appeals Board (BAB) in relation to the council’s determination of the date of construction of the pool or spa
• the date by which the first or next certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged with the relevant council.

Upon application for registration of the swimming pool or spa, Council will determine the date of construction and the applicable barrier standard and inform the applicant in writing.

To determine the date of construction, the council may consider any relevant information, such as the date of any building permit issued in relation to the swimming pool or spa.

This may include information provided in the registration application, the council’s records (such as building permit data) or other relevant information obtained by the council, including real estate listings and aerial photography.

A certificate of compliance needs to be provided to Council within every four years after the first certificate of pool and spa barrier compliance was lodged with Council.

Please contact the relevant council to check if your pool or spa has been registered.

• For pools and spas constructed on or before 30 June 1994, a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged by 1 Nov 2021
• For pools and spas constructed between 1 July 1994 and 1 May 2010, a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged by 1 Nov 2022
• For pools and spas constructed between 1 May 2010 and 31 May 2020, a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged by 1 Nov 2023

For pools and spas constructed on or after 1 Nov 2020, a certificate of barrier compliance is due within 30 days of occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection. This certificate must accompany an application for registration. The next certificate of compliance is due four years after registration.

If you are carrying out repair works on an existing safety barrier, a building permit may be required to alter the barrier.  Work to alter an existing barrier will need to comply with the current regulations.

Yes – it is mandatory for all land owners in Victoria to apply to register any pool or spa on their property.

Of the 27 drownings that have occurred in Victoria since 2000, 12 involved children who were not residents of the property. In one case, the child had entered the pool area without the knowledge of the property owner.