There’s nothing better than relaxing by your own pool, but the process of getting there can feel overwhelming. Between approvals, safety checks, and paperwork, many Queensland home owners are surprised by just how much admin is involved in building or renovating a pool.
The good news? With the right preparation, you can save time, avoid common delays, and enjoy a smooth, stress-free experience. Here’s your go-to guide to navigating your pool project with confidence.
If you are buying, selling or leasing a property with a pool you must get a pool safety certificate if there is not a current certificate in place, make sure you know what approvals are required. In Queensland, swimming pools must meet strict safety standards, including pool fencing, gates, and safety barriers, and you’ll likely need a pool safety certificate.
Tip: If you don’t have a pool safety certificate, you must submit a Form 36 Notice of No Pool Safety Certificate. You can now complete and submit this form online, saving time and reducing errors. Submit Form 36 online.
Only licensed Pool Safety Inspectors can issue a pool safety certificate, and you can find one here: Pool Safety Inspector Search. If you’ve had an issue with a licensed Pool Safety Inspector, it’s important to know you can lodge a formal complaint.
Tip: Use the Form 1—Complaint Against Pool Safety Inspector to raise concerns. You can submit this form digitally for faster handling. Submit a Form 1—Complaint against pool safety inspector online.
Don’t wait until summer to check that your pool is compliant. Fixing fencing issues or re-applying for certificates can take time, so plan to avoid last-minute stress.
Tip: If you are requesting a refund due to an administrative error, duplicate, or system error relating to your pool safety certificate and want to request a refund, you can submit a Refund Request—Pool Safety Certificate Cancellation online.
If you made a mistake on a Pool Safety Certificate, you may not need to use this form. To change details such as:
Email the QBCC Pool Team at poolsafety@qbcc.qld.gov.au.
Include:
A member of the QBCC Pool Safety Team will respond to your request
Queensland’s pool safety standards are designed to keep your family and the community safe. Take time to familiarise yourself with the latest rules around fencing, gate latches, and signage.
Most delays in pool approvals happen because forms are incomplete or missing information. Submitting forms online helps ensure your paperwork is complete and ready to be submitted saving you time and avoiding costly rework
December marks the launch of the "Check Your Pool Gate" initiative, serving as a timely reminder for Queenslanders to prioritise pool safety as summer approaches.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) urges people to check their pool is safe and educate those around them on their pool safety responsibilities, including keeping the pool gate firmly shut at all times.
Pool owners are required by law to ensure their pool is fenced and meets the swimming pool safety standard. The standard covers:
A swimming pool is defined as an above or belowground structure and includes all temporary pools and spas (including small inflatable pools) that can hold 300mm of water or more.
While active adult supervision is recommended when children are swimming, sadly many young lives are lost each year in drowning related incidents; half of those tragic incidents occurring in backyard swimming pools.
Additionally, all rented properties with pools are required to have a pool safety certificate. Pool safety certificates can only be issued by QBCC licensed pool safety inspectors – confirming the pool is compliant at the time of inspection.
Pool safety certificates are valid for one year for shared pools and two years for non-shared pools, and are required when buying, selling or leasing a property. If you are not selling, buying or leasing your property your pool barrier still needs to be compliant.
More information on pool safety compliance is on the QBCC website and people can also search the pool register to find out if a pool at a particular address meets safety requirements.
Alternatively, more information can be found via the below resources:
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is an independent statutory authority that regulates Queensland’s building and construction industry. This includes overseeing pool safety laws.
When it comes to pool safety laws, the QBCC are responsible for:
We have a different role to the elected state government, the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works, and local governments.
The elected state government makes decisions about policy matters and creates building standards and laws which govern the industry.
The Department supports the state government by giving advice and recommendations, implementing decisions and drafting laws.
Local governments also have a role in pool safety, which includes:
For more information on pool safety, visit Swimming pools and follow us on social media. See links at the bottom of this page.
You can find a licensed local contractor in your area:
