Swimming Pool and Spa Compliance

The Victorian Government introduced new regulations to make swimming pools and spas safer and prevent young children from drowning.

To ensure you have a safe and compliant pool or spa barrier, there are four easy steps.

Step 1.Register your pool or spa

The first step is to register your pool or spa. This was to be completed by 1 November 2020.

Register your pool or spa

After you’ve registered your pool, you will receive a letter from the Shire confirming the next step: getting your pool or spa barrier checked by a qualified surveyor. The letter will also include details of when your pool or spa was constructed and the due date for lodgement of the compliance certificate.

Step 2.Get your pool or spa barrier checked by a qualified surveyor

Get your pool or spa barrier checked by a qualified surveyor. You can view a list of registered building practitioners on the VBA’s Find a practitioner directory.

Step 3.Undertake required works to make the pool or spa barrier compliant 

Undertake required works to make the pool or spa barrier compliant. As outlined by your building practitioner.

The building practitioner will assess compliance against the relevant standard. Standards vary according to the date your pool or spa was constructed. The construction date also determines the date by which the barriers must be inspected and certified.

  • Pools/spas built pre 1994 1 November 2021
  • Pools/spas built up to 2010 1 November 2022
  • Pools/spas built post 2010 1 November 2023

Step 4.Have your pool or spa barrier certified

Once you have received certification from your building practitioner, you need to provide a copy of the certification to the Shire by the relevant date (which is listed on your registration letter from the Shire).

You can do that by lodging a certificate of compliance.

Lodge your certificate of compliance

The fee to lodge the Certificate of Compliance is $21.10.

Step 5.Request a Certificate of Compliance Form 23 - Extension of Time

If the owner of a registered swimming pool/spa is having difficultly arranging an inspection of a safety barrier they are able to apply for an extension of time to the lodgement due date previously nominated by council. If the due date extension application is successful, the extension of time will likely be 60 days so it is important to continue to work towards arranging the appropriate safety barrier inspection as soon as possible.

Request Extension of Time

 

Pool and spa inspection providers

After you have lodged your Certificate of Compliance, Council will then send an acknowledgement letter confirming the next compliance due date. Please make sure you record the date and keep this letter as reminders will not be sent and charges may apply for reprinting.

Safety barriers will need to be inspected and certified by a registered building practitioner to inspect and certify the compliance of their safety barrier every four years.

Pool owners should check the credentials of anyone they engage for this work through the register on the Victorian Building Authority website.

Mornington Peninsula Shire does not offer a pool and spa inspection and certification service. It is not affiliated with any providers of this service and does not endorse or support any providers of this service. 

Non-compliance

The Shire is tasked with ensuring all affected property owners comply with the new requirements with penalties for non-compliance.

Failing to register a swimming pool and/or spa with the Shire is an offence under the Building Regulations 2018 and carries a penalty (this fine amount is currently $397.50). Other penalties may also apply.

Non-compliance can be reported below.

Report pool registration non-compliance

 

 

Further information

For more information about the new state government legislation, please visit: Victorian Building Authority Website on swimming pools and spas

Read our Frequently Asked Questions about pool and spa barrier compliance

Read the Building Regulations.

For more information phone Statutory Building on (03) 5950 1060.

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