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Your pool failed inspection: what happens next

A fail is normal and usually cheap to resolve. Here is the order of operations to get to a certificate.

Last reviewed July 2026. Pool rules change and vary by council, so confirm the current requirement with your state authority before you act.

Read the defect list

When a pool does not pass, the inspector gives you a written list of what needs to change. Most lists are short and made up of small items: gate hardware, a gap to close, or something climbable to move. In NSW a formal certificate of non-compliance may be issued, which sets the clock for rectification.

Fix the common items yourself

Many defects are within reach of a capable owner or a general handyperson: replacing a self-closing hinge or latch, packing soil to close an under-fence gap, relocating the pool pump, or putting up a compliant CPR sign. Keep receipts and photos in case you need to show the work.

Book the reinspection

Once the defects are fixed, arrange a reinspection, usually cheaper than the first visit. Passing produces your certificate of compliance (NSW) or Form 23 (QLD).

If you are mid-sale

In NSW you can still sell with a certificate of non-compliance attached to the contract, and the buyer then has 90 days after settlement to rectify. In QLD, a non-shared pool can be sold without a certificate if the buyer is given the prescribed notice, again with a 90-day window. The exception in NSW is a pool that poses a public safety risk, which must be fixed before sale. Confirm the current process with your state authority. Sources: NSW Government owner obligations; QBCC pool safety.

This is general information, not legal advice. The authorities are NSW Fair Trading and the NSW Swimming Pool Register in New South Wales, and the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) in Queensland. Always confirm the current rule for the state your pool is in.