Please check your swimming and spa pools for child safety

Published 17 Oct 2022

Summer is just around the corner (hopefully!) and swimming and spa pool owners are being asked to check they have compliant pool fencing in place as the warmer weather approaches to help reduce the risk of children drowning or being injured.

Pool owners are responsible for ensuring their pool remains compliant with the fencing requirements for the safety of young children.

Under the law, all pools must be fenced with unless:

- The maximum depth is less than 400mm.
- The walls of the pool are 1.2m or more above the ground with no step-ups, hand holds or projections enabling a child to climb.
- The pool is an indoor residential pool, or is inside a building.
- The pool has a waiver or modification granted by the Council.

Only an inspection by a Council Inspector or a registered Independently Qualified Pool Inspector (IQPI) can confirm if your pool fence complies. All pools must be inspected once every 3 years by law.

To find out when your pool was last inspected, you can enquire through Council’s Customer Services Team. The Council maintains a register of pool inspections, including those notified by independent inspectors.

If your inspection results in the need to install a fence or, where a new fence is required, you will need to apply for a Building Consent. The Building Consent must be issued before that work is done.