Pool safety certificates in Queensland
A pool safety certificate shows your pool barrier met Queensland's pool safety standard when a licensed inspector checked it. You need one when you sell, buy or lease a property with a pool. It lasts 2 years for a non-shared pool and 1 year for a shared pool, and only a QBCC-licensed pool safety inspector can issue it.
When you need a pool safety certificate
| Situation | Non-shared pool (house with its own pool) | Shared pool (units, complexes) |
|---|---|---|
| Selling | Give the buyer a copy before the buyer signs the contract, or lodge a Form 36 if there's no certificate | Give the buyer a copy before the buyer signs the contract, or lodge a Form 36. The pool owner then has 90 days to get one |
| Buying | If you received a Form 36, get a certificate within 90 days of settlement | The pool owner, usually the body corporate, must get one within 90 days |
| Leasing | A certificate must be in effect before the lease is entered into | Give a copy to the tenant and the pool owner, or lodge a Form 36 |
Whether or not you need a certificate, every pool owner must keep their barrier meeting the pool safety standard at all times. Councils can fine owners whose barriers don't comply, even when there is a current certificate.
How long a certificate lasts
- Non-shared pools: 2 years.
- Shared pools: 1 year.
A certificate confirms the pool complied when it was inspected. It doesn't cover changes since then, like a gate closer that has worn out.
When it expires, and what to do if it has
An expired certificate no longer counts as current. QBCC's pages don't describe extending one, so a new certificate means another inspection by a licensed pool safety inspector. Meanwhile:
- Selling: with no current certificate, lodge a Form 36 and give the buyer a copy before they sign. Selling guide.
- Leasing a house with its own pool: a certificate must be in effect before the lease is entered into, so book the inspection before the lease date.
- Not selling or leasing: nothing new is triggered, but the barrier must still comply at all times and councils can fine owners whose barriers don't.
To find out when yours expires, check the QBCC register or look at the date on your copy. Book early: a failed inspection means fixing the problems and a re-inspection.
Who can issue one
Only a pool safety inspector licensed by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). Inspectors don't work for the government. They are private businesses, and they can also carry out minor repairs found during an inspection. Find a licensed inspector.
If you've just built a pool or replaced a fence that needed building approval, a building certifier's final inspection certificate can take the place of a pool safety certificate.
What it costs
There's no set fee. Each inspector sets their own price, and QBCC suggests getting a few quotes. The bigger cost risk is failing: a failed inspection means fixing the problems and paying for the inspector to come back. Dated price ranges from Queensland inspectors.
How to get a certificate
- Check your barrier first. Look at the fence, gates, latches, climbable objects, windows, doors and CPR sign. The main rules are here, or use the PoolPreCert app to work through them.
- Fix what you find. Many common problems are quick fixes.
- Book a licensed inspector. If the pool complies, they issue the certificate.
- If it doesn't comply, you'll get a Form 26 nonconformity notice listing what to fix. What happens next.
Lost your certificate?
You can download and print a current certificate from QBCC's pool register. The register also shows whether a property already has a current certificate, which is worth checking before you book an inspection.
Check your pool before you book
Walk around your pool with the PoolPreCert app, answer each barrier check, and see what to fix before the inspector arrives.
Common questions
How long is a pool safety certificate valid in Queensland?
Two years for a non-shared pool, such as a house with its own pool, and one year for a shared pool, such as a pool in a unit complex.
Who can issue a pool safety certificate?
Only a pool safety inspector licensed by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). Inspectors are private businesses, not government employees.
How much does a pool safety inspection cost?
There is no set fee. Each inspector sets their own price, so QBCC suggests getting a few quotes before you book.
Do I need a pool safety certificate if I am not selling or leasing?
Not usually. You need one when you sell, buy or lease a property with a pool. But your pool barrier must meet the pool safety standard at all times, and your council can fine you if it isn't, certificate or not.
How do I check if a property already has a certificate?
Search the property on the QBCC pool register. It shows whether a current pool safety certificate is in place.
What happens when a pool safety certificate expires?
It no longer counts as a current certificate. A certificate lasts 2 years for a non-shared pool and 1 year for a shared pool, and a new one needs another inspection by a licensed pool safety inspector. If you sell or lease while there is no current certificate, the rules for a property with no current certificate apply: a Form 36 when selling, and for a non-shared pool no lease unless a certificate is in effect.
Does the pool have to comply while the certificate has expired?
Yes. The barrier must comply with the pool safety standard at all times, with or without a certificate, and councils can fine owners whose barriers don't comply.