Pool Fencing Laws & Regulations in NSW

Southern Cross Frameless Glass will install a Pool Fence compliant with NSW laws. As a NSW licensed professional, you can trust us to provide you the advice required to avoid the hefty penalties for non-compliance. More importantly by keeping your pool legally fenced, you will keep your children and guests safe.

Below is a summary of pool fencing regulations and should be used as a guide only.

You must, by State law, have a four sided fence around any pool that can be filled with more than 300mm of water. This includes inflatable and portable swimming pools. However it is not as simple as getting any fence installed. The requirements for pool fencing vary depending on when the pool was built and where the pool is located and there are physical and technical requirements.

Pool Life
For pools built before 1 August 1990: Access to the pool from the house must be restricted at all times. Windows and doors may form part of the barrier, but they must be compliant.

For pools built between 1 August 1990 and 1 July 2010: The pool must be surrounded by a fence that separates the pool from the house. Some exemptions apply to pools on very small properties (less than 230 square metres), large properties (2 hectares or over) and those on waterfront properties.

For pools built after 1 July 2010: All new pools must be surrounded by a fence that separates the pool from the house.

Physical measurements
Pool fencing physical requirements are:
  • height of a pool fence must be at least 1.2m above the ground from finished ground level
  • gap at the bottom of the pool fence must not be more than 10cm from finished ground level
  • gaps between between any vertical bars in the fence must not be more than 10cm
  • to prevent children climbing over pool fences any horizontal climbable bars on the fence must be at least 90cm apart from each other.

Non-climbable zone
Trees, shrubs or any other objects such as a barbeque, pot plants, toys, ladders and chairs must not be within the 90cm 'non climbable zone'. This is so that a child can not use them to climb over the fence.

The 'non climbable zone' is a zone measured in an arc shape from the top of the outside of the pool fence arching towards the ground. Any part of the boundary fence that is part of the pool fence or is within the 90cm 'non climbable zone' must not have any horizontal bars.

Doors in pool barriers
If you have a door that forms part of a pool barrier you must make sure that:
  • it self closes
  • it self latches
  • the latching device is at least 150cm off the ground
  • there are no footholds wider than 1cm on the door or its frame between the floor and 100cm above the floor
  • it does not have any pet doors.

Gate closing and latching devices
Check to ensure that your pool gate:
  • is never propped open and is always kept shut
  • swings outwards (away from the pool area). If it does not swing outwards, the gate must be re-hung so that it does.
  • shuts automatically from any open position, without having to forcibly close it.
  • automatically locks (self-latches) when it closes.

If the gate does not shut and lock automatically, the pool gate should be permanently fastened until a new lock and closing device can be installed.

Use the Self Assessment Checklist to make sure your pool or spa is compliant with state laws.
Information on this page was derived from the following websites:
NSW pool owners are required to register their backyard swimming pools in an online register.
Visit the register at www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au and follow the easy registration steps.
WARNING: All properties in NSW with a swimming pool or spa pool cannot be sold or leased without a valid certificate or relevant occupation certificate.
Details here