Swimming Pool and Spa Registration
Full pool and spa compliance is required on the date indicated on the confirmation letter you receive once registered.
The Victorian Government has extended deadlines for lodging certificates of barrier compliance with local councils. The new cut-off dates are reflected below
| Previous Compliance Date |
New Compliance Date |
| 1 November 2021 |
1 June 2022 |
| 1 November 2022 |
1 June 2023 |
| 1 November 2023 |
1 June 2024 |
To register your pool/ spa you will need:
- Your Property Number (which is located on your Rate Notice or Pet Registration Notice).
- Know whether your pool / spa is permanent or relocatable (see below).
- Know the construction date of your pool / spa (the date or approximate date that the swimming pool or spa was constructed).
Register and Pay Online
Alternatively, download and complete Application to Register a Swimming Pool or Spa and return with payment to any of the Shire Offices. Please note registration will not be accepted until payment of the fee has been receipted.
Please note:
- If you have a pool and spa on the same property, you can register them both on the same form and pay the one fee. You will need to complete a new form and pay the appropriate fee for pools and spas located on separate properties.
- You can read the full process for pool and spa compliance here.
- If you no longer have a pool or
Frequently Asked Questions
The Victorian Building Authority has also put together a large number of Frequently Asked Questions to assist you.
What is the cost of registration?
- All owners of existing swimming pools and spas must register their swimming pool or spa.
- A one-off registration fee will be required (set by the Victorian Government)
- Pools/Spas built before 1 December 2019: $81.70 (includes the information search fee)
- Pools/Spas built after 1 December 2019: $32.30
Please note there is also a fee associated to lodge your Certificate of Compliance that is separate to your registration fee.
| Type of fee or penalty |
Amount |
Pool or spa registration fee
A one-off fee payable to the relevant council for the registration of your pool or spa. |
$34.20^ |
|
Information search fee
The information search fee only applies to pools or spas constructed before 1 December 2019.
This fee enables the Shire to conduct the appropriate searches to determine the date of construction of your pool or spa and any associated building permits, in order to determine the applicable barrier standard as required by the Victorian Building Authority.
|
$50.70^ |
| Failure to register swimming pool or spa within relevant timeframe |
up to $363.50^ |
^These fees and penalty are applicable until 30 June 2023.
What does permanent or relocatable mean?
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has defined a relocatable swimming pool or spa as: "Any swimming pool or spa that is capable of being relocated". Relocatable pools do not consist of multiple components and do not require any assembly. An example of such a product is a small inflatable pool that requires no assembly other than inflation.
What pools and spas need to be registered?
Any swimming pool or spa that can hold water to a depth greater than 300mm and principally used for swimming, wading, paddling, or the like, including a bathing or wading pool, or spa must be registered with Council.
This includes: In-ground and above ground pools and spas, inflatable pools, indoor pools and spa pools, children’s paddling and wading pools, spas, jacuzzis, hot tubs and swim spas (including portable spas)
This does not include: Structures such as bird baths, fish ponds, fountains, spas inside a building that are used for personal hygiene, water supply/storage tanks and dams’ rivers creeks and lakes.
What happens after I register?
Once you have completed your registration:
- You will receive an automatic receipt via email.
- Our Statutory Building Unit will process your registration.
- You will receive a confirmation letter outlining the next steps. The next compliance due date will be indicated on the confirmation letter.
What happens if I don’t register?
Council will be tasked to ensure all affected property Owners comply with the new regulations and penalties will apply for non-compliance.
Failing to register a swimming pool and/or spa with the Shire is an offence under the Regulations and carries a penalty (this fine amount is currently $363.50).
Do my safety barriers have to be inspected?
Safety barriers will need to be inspected and certified by a registered 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 June 2022
- Pools/spas built up to 2010 1 June 2023
- Pools/spas built post 2010 1 June 2024
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.
You can do that by lodging a certificate of compliance.
Lodge a Certificate of Compliance
Who can inspect my safety barriers?
Any building surveyor or building inspector who is registered with the Victorian Building Authority is able to inspect and certify your safety barriers.
You can view a list of registered building practitioners on the VBA’s Find a practitioner directory.
The Shire doesn't provide a reference list of these due to the frequency of changes.
Council recently inspect my safety barriers, do I have to have them re-inspected again?
Yes, whilst Council may have recently inspected your safety barriers, the changes to the Building Act and Regulations on the 1st December 2019 require all swimming pool or spa safety barriers to be re-inspected and certified by the required dates.