Pool safety checklist for Queensland homeowners
This is a checklist of the things QBCC tells owners to look at: the height of the fence and the gap beneath it, climbable objects near the fence, the gate and its latch, doors and windows that open onto the pool area, and the CPR sign. It is a way to look before you book, not an inspection. A licensed inspector decides whether a pool meets the standard.Source: QBCC pool safety standard pages (reviewed between 30 Aug 2021 and 12 May 2025) and Queensland Government, Pool fences and barriers (reviewed 27 Jun 2024), read 31 Oct 2026.
Before you start
Walk the whole barrier, not just the gate. Take a tape measure, a pen and your phone for photos. Note the date. The numbers below are QBCC's; the link on each line explains it.
No charge to run the self-check. It is not an inspection.
The checklist
| Item | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Fence height | At least 1200 mm at every point, measured from finished ground level at a right angle to the ground, including on slopes and steps. How to measure |
| Gap under the fence | No more than 100 mm from the ground to the bottom of the barrier, and no holes or gaps over 100 mm in the fence. How to measure |
| Fence condition | Rigid, with every part securely fixed, no broken or wobbly rails or posts, and no loose or broken glass panels. Glass panels have not shifted or dropped. Fence requirements |
| Climbable objects | Nothing a child could climb within 900 mm of the outside of the fence or 300 mm of the inside: furniture, barbecues, pots, planters, air-conditioning units, branches. Non-climbable zones |
| Gate | Opens away from the pool, closes by itself and latches by itself from any open position. Nothing props it open. Gates and latches |
| Latch and hinges | Latch release on the outside at least 1500 mm above the ground, no gap over 10 mm around the handle, and no hinge a child could climb. Gates and latches |
| Doors, windows, balconies | No door opens straight onto an outdoor pool area. A window that opens onto the pool area opens no more than 100 mm. A balcony within 900 mm of the fence needs its own look. Doors and windows |
| CPR sign | At least 300 mm by 300 mm, weatherproof, showing how to do CPR, and easy to see from the pool area. CPR signs |
| Above-ground pool | Wall at least 1200 mm and hard to climb on the outside, nothing bracing it in the zone, and a ladder inside a fence with a gate. Above-ground pools |
| Boundary fence | A dividing fence can be part of your barrier if it is at least 1200 mm high, hard to climb on the outside and has nothing climbable within 300 mm on the inside. Talk to your neighbour before changing it. A neighbour's fence |
QBCC says to check gates after any heavy knock, because misalignment can stop a gate closing by itself.
No charge to run the self-check. It is not an inspection.
What to do with what you find
Mark each item for yourself as Looks OK, Needs attention or Couldn't check. Looks OK means it looked fine to you on the day, not that anyone has approved it. Fix what needs attention, or ask a licensed tradesperson to (repairing or replacing a pool fence), then look again. When you are ready, book a licensed inspector: the steps in order.
This checklist is general information built from QBCC's published pool safety standard pages. It is not legal advice and it is not an inspection. If you are unsure about any item, ask a licensed pool safety inspector. See also how the PoolPreCert self-check works.
How this page was made: the PoolPreCert team read each page listed under Sources on 31 October 2026 and wrote this in plain words. The dates beside each source are the dates those pages show. PoolPreCert is not part of QBCC or the Queensland Government, and only a licensed pool safety inspector decides whether a pool meets the standard.
Check your barrier before you book
Walk around your pool with the PoolPreCert app and mark each check Looks OK, Needs attention or Couldn't check. A licensed inspector decides.
No charge to run the self-check.
Common questions
Is this checklist an inspection?
No. Only a licensed pool safety inspector can inspect a pool and decide whether it meets the pool safety standard. This checklist lists things you can look at yourself before you book one.
What are the main measurements to look at?
QBCC gives a fence height of at least 1200 mm and a gap under the barrier of no more than 100 mm. Climbable objects should be at least 900 mm from the outside of the fence and 300 mm from the inside.
What if something on the list needs attention?
Fix it, or ask a licensed tradesperson to, then look again. QBCC says to check gates after heavy impacts, because a knock can misalign a gate so it no longer closes by itself.
How do I record what I find?
Write the date next to each item, or use the PoolPreCert self-check, which lets you mark each check Looks OK, Needs attention or Couldn't check and keeps your notes and photos.