If you own a pool or spa in the ACT, there's a date you need to know: 1 May 2028. That's the deadline for owners of pools built before 1 May 2013 to lodge a compliance status certificate with Access Canberra confirming the safety barrier meets the standard.
As licensed ACT barrier inspectors, and SPASA Barrier Inspector Award finalists, we've inspected hundreds of Canberra pools. Here's what the rules actually require, in plain English.
The three key obligations
- Since 1 May 2024: every ACT pool owner must maintain a compliant safety barrier at all times, regardless of when the pool was built.
- Selling or leasing: if you sell or lease a property with a pool, compliance obligations apply right now, not in 2028. Buyers and tenants must receive the required documentation.
- By 1 May 2028: owners of pre-May-2013 pools must have a compliance status certificate lodged with Access Canberra.
What an inspector actually checks
A barrier inspection covers the entire pool enclosure against the Australian Standard. The most common failure points we find in Canberra are:
- Climbable objects within the non-climbable zone, BBQs, pot plants, retaining walls, tree branches
- Gate hardware, latches that don't self-latch, hinges that don't self-close, worn springs
- Gaps, more than 100mm under or between barrier panels
- Barrier height, below 1200mm, often due to garden build-up or new paving
- Boundary fences used as barriers that don't meet the height rules (typically 1800mm on the non-pool side)
Most failures are simple, inexpensive fixes, but only if you find them early.
Why act now rather than 2027
Thousands of ACT pools will need certification before the deadline. Many will fail first inspection and need rectification work, fencing contractors, landscaping, new gate hardware, before reinspection. The closer we get to May 2028, the harder it will be to book inspectors and trades. Acting now means no queue, no stress, and time to fix anything properly.
Need a certificate? We are taking barrier inspection bookings, including compliance status certificates for $479 with the ACT Government lodgement fee included. Book an inspection or read our compliance guide and the official ACT factsheets.
What about spas?
Spas are exempt from the pool barrier requirements, a spa doesn't need a fence-type barrier provided it's covered and secured by a lockable child-resistant structure such as a compliant door, lid, grille or mesh. Portable and demountable pools still have their own rules. If you're unsure whether your spa cover qualifies or your setup needs certification, call us on 02 6294 0824 and we'll give you a straight answer.