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Pre-inspection checklist: pass the first time

Ten minutes with this list before the inspector arrives is the cheapest way to avoid a paid reinspection.

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

Test the gate

Open the pool gate from a few different positions and let it go each time. It should swing fully shut and latch on its own, every time, opening away from the pool. If the spring is tired or the latch does not catch, replace the hardware before the visit. Faulty gates are the number one reason pools fail.

Walk the fence line

Check for any gap under or through the barrier wider than 100mm, including spots where soil has washed away at the bottom. Look at horizontal rails on the pool side that a child could use as a foothold, especially on a boundary fence doing double duty as the pool barrier.

Clear the non-climbable zone

Move anything climbable away from the fence: pot plants, outdoor furniture, the pool pump and filter, ladders, and low tree branches. Inspectors measure this zone carefully, and a single dragged-over chair can turn a pass into a fail.

Sign and access

Put up a current, legible CPR sign near the pool. Check that doors and windows opening into the pool area meet the rules for your state. Then confirm your pool is on the state register, because a certificate cannot do its job at sale time if the registration is missing. Sources: NSW Government pool safety; QBCC guide to pool safety for homeowners.

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.