Register your backyard swimming pool or spa
Key points
- On 1 December 2019, new Victorian laws were introduced to ensure backyard swimming pools and spas have appropriate safety barriers/fencing. Under these laws, it’s the responsibility of the owner of the property with the pool/spa to register it.
- You must register a pool or spa with Council if a property you own in Cardinia Shire has a permanent or temporary pool or spa that can hold a depth of 300mm of water.
- Once you register it, you’ll receive a letter from Council stating when your pool/spa and its barrier needs to be inspected and approved by a registered building/pool inspector. This can be arranged through Council or through an independent registered building and pool inspector.
- After the initial inspection, you’ll need to get your pool/spa inspected every 4 years, and lodge the certificate of compliance with Council.
Follow the steps below to guide you through the registration process.
Step 1 – Check if you need to register your pool or spa
If your pool/spa is capable of holding a depth of 300 millimetres of water, and it will be standing for more than 3 days in a row, it needs to be registered. (If it’s a temporary pool, it needs to be registered no later than the 4th day).
Important information about temporary pools/spas
- If you’re planning to buy a temporary pool or spa and/or a barrier to put around it, we strongly recommend you check first with your registered pool inspector to make sure they’re satisfied with your proposal before you make any purchases.
- If you’re renting and planning to put up a temporary pool/spa, make sure you have the property owner’s permission to put up the pool/spa as they are responsible for registering it.
Step 2 – Understand the deadlines and fees involved
Deadlines
- Existing pools and spas were due to be registered with Council by 1 November 2020.
- All pools/spas installed on or after 1 November 2020 must be registered within 30 days of the date of occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection.
Fees
- Registration: $87.19 (for pools/spas built before 1 November 2020)
- Property Information Request: $52.07
- Form 23 - Certificate of compliance lodgement: $23.15
- Form 24 - Certificate of non-compliance lodgement: $424.58 (this is the fee you’ll need to pay if your pool/spa is inspected and the safety barrier does not meet legal safety requirements).
Step 3 – Register your pool or spa
Register your pool/spa using the relevant form below.
What you need to complete the application
- For a permanent pool/spa: The estimated date that it was constructed.
- Credit card for payment
- Certificate of final inspection (if applicable)
- Rates notice if you have one, to look up your property/assessment number. You can also look up the property number online
Register online
Register a permanent pool or spa
Register a relocatable/temporary pool or spa
If you need a hard copy form, please contact the Building team on 1300 787 624 or email mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au
Step 4 – Wait to hear from us
Once you register your pool/spa, we’ll do some research and send you a letter or email with the following information:
- The most accurate data we can obtain on when your pool or spa was built
- The barrier standard the pool fence needs to comply with
- The due date for lodging for your pool/spa certificate of compliance (form 23)
Step 5 – Engage a registered inspector to inspect your pool/spa
- Once you’ve received the info outlined in Step 4, you must Book your pool safety barrier and fencing inspection through Council or arrange to have an inspection completed by an independent registered building and pool inspectors.
- You’ll need to allow enough time for the inspector to meet the certificate of compliance lodgement due date (see table below). We recommend you get quotes for the inspection at least 3 to 6 months before the required lodgement date.
Pool Barrier Application Online Form
Certificate of compliance lodgement due dates
|
Date the pool or spa was built |
Date that the certificate of compliance will need to be submitted to Council by the building inspector/pool inspector |
|---|---|
|
Pool/spa built on or before 30 June 1994 |
1 June 2022 |
|
Pool/spa built from 1 July 1994 and before 1 May 2010 |
1 June 2023 |
|
Pool/spa built from 1 May 2010 and before 1 November 2020 |
1 June 2024 |
|
Pool/spa construction completed from 1 November 2020 |
Within 30 days of the date of issue of the occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection for the pool/spa. |
| Relocatable/temporary pool/spa | Within 30 days of registration |
If the barrier meets legal safety requirements
The inspector will submit a certificate of compliance for your pool/spa to Council.
When the certificate of compliance needs to be lodged
Permanent pools: Within 30 days of the issue date on the certificate, and by the due date.
Temporary/relocatable pools and spas: Within 30 days of registration.
If the barrier does NOT meet legal safety requirements
A certificate of non-compliance will be issued immediately in these circumstances:
- For any major breaches found.
- 60 days after an initial inspection for any minor breaches found and not rectified.
- If the owner prevents the inspector from carrying out another inspection.
You’ll then be issued with a notice requiring you to pay $424.60. This must be paid within 28 days to avoid a further penalty of $1975.90.
Fixing the non-compliant issues
- You may also be issued with a ‘barrier improvement notice’ that states what you need to do to fix the non-compliant matter/s listed in the certificate of non-compliance. You may need to engage a qualified person to carry out any repairs or alterations.
- You then need to lodge a certificate of compliance within 14 days.
Step 6 - Lodge your inspection certificate online
Once your pool/spa has been inspected please lodge the certificate and pay the relevant fee online.
Lodge a Certificate of Compliance
Certificate of Compliance (Form 23)
Lodge a Certificate of Non-Compliance
When you'll need to have your pool/spa inspected again
Within 4 years after the date on the initial (first) certificate of compliance, or in accordance with written advice from Council to the owner.
What happens if I don’t register my pool or spa?
Failure to register your pool/spa: Penalty $1975.90 (10 penalty units).
Failure to pay non-compliance lodgement fee: Penalty $1975.90 (10 penalty units)
Removing/decommissioning a pool or spa
If you’re removing or decommissioning your pool or spa, you need to contact our Building team before any works start, as this work needs to be carried out to our satisfaction and may also require a building permit.
- After the pool/spa is removed/decommissioned, contact us to request to have your property taken off the pool/spa register.
- We may need photo evidence or to do an inspection to see that the pool/spa has been removed/decommissioned.