Quick answer: If your pool fence fails an inspection in WA, your council sends you a notice listing what to fix, then re-inspects once you’ve fixed it. Councils such as Armadale cover re-inspections through the pool inspection levy on your rates. Fines and Building Orders only come into play if you ignore the notice or keep failing.
Just failed a pool fence inspection? Take a breath. A fail isn’t a fine, and the usual culprits are small: a gate that won’t latch, a gap under a panel or a pot plant leaning on the fence. Here’s what happens next, what it can cost you and how to sort the common faults.
Pool fence inspections in WA at a glance
| Question | Answer |
| Who inspects? | Your local government, not a state agency |
| How often? | At least once every four years |
| First inspection of a new pool? | Within 30 days of the council knowing the pool is complete |
| Which pools? | Private pools and spas that can hold more than 300 mm of water, including portable and inflatable ones |
| Who pays? | A pool inspection levy, usually on your rates notice |
| Can they come onto your property? | Yes, inspectors have powers of entry under the Building Act 2011 |
The four-year visit is only a check. Your barrier has to comply every day, so a fence that passed last time can fail this time. The WA Government’s safety barrier page covers the official rules, and our pool fence regulations WA guide explains the heights, gaps and gate rules in plain English.
What happens after a pool fence fails an inspection?
Here’s the usual path. Details differ between councils, so read your own notice.
- The inspector records the faults. Councils usually contact you before the visit. If the fence fails, the inspector notes each fault.
- You get a notice or report. It lists what to fix, so check it for the deadline.
- You fix the faults. Start with gates and gaps, because they fail most often.
- The council re-inspects. At councils such as Armadale, re-inspections sit inside the levy you already pay. The City of Vincent quotes a 60-day re-inspection window under regulation 53(2)(b) of the Building Regulations 2012, so book your fix early.
- If you ignore it, the council escalates. After repeated failed re-inspections, a compliance team can step in with an infringement or a Building Order.
How much can a failed pool fence cost you?
A fail on its own usually costs nothing extra, because re-inspections sit inside the levy. The money only starts when you ignore the problem.
| Council | What it says |
| City of Vincent | Can issue a $1,000 infringement for failing to provide a pool safety barrier |
| Town of Cottesloe | Can issue an infringement of up to $5,000 if owners make no attempt to fix the faults |
| City of Armadale | After multiple failed re-inspections, the compliance team may issue an infringement |
A Building Order under the Building Act 2011 may also follow, as the Town of Cottesloe notes. The amounts differ by council, so check your notice for the one that applies to you.
Why do Pool Fence Fails an Inspection in WA?
Gates, gaps and climbable objects cause most fails. Perth adds two twists: sandy soil that shifts and settles, and storms that knock panels loose. Here’s what to look for.
| Fault | Why it fails | Usual fix |
| Gate doesn’t self-close or latch | It must close and latch by itself every time | Adjust or replace the hinges and latch, and check the gate hangs level |
| Gap under the fence over 100 mm | A small child can crawl through | Add a bottom panel, or re-level the soil or paving |
| Gaps between panels or pickets | The same 100 mm limit applies | Add filler panels or replace damaged sections |
| Pot plants, BBQs, bins or air-con units near the fence | They give a child a foothold, so they break the non-climbable zone | Move them clear of the zone |
| Branches and climbing plants | Plants make a ladder and hide damage | Trim them back |
| Loose or leaning panels | They create weak points and gaps | Re-fix or replace the panels |
| Latch too low | A child can reach it from outside | Raise the latch or add a shield |
Moving pots or trimming plants costs nothing. For hardware or panels, ask your council whether the work needs a permit, then call a fencer.
A pool fence checklist before the inspector arrives
Walk the fence once a month, and always after a storm.
- Open and close every gate five times. It should close and latch each time without a push.
- Check the gate swings away from the pool.
- Look for gaps wider than 100 mm under the fence and between panels.
- Clear the non-climbable zone, which is 900 mm in current guidance.
- Shake the panels and posts. Fix anything loose, leaning or rusted.
- Trim plants that touch the fence.
- Check ground levels, because sand and paving move.
Boundary fences and your neighbour
If a boundary fence forms part of your pool barrier, it counts. Check both sides for anything a child could climb, including what your neighbour stacks against it.
Also, the WA Government’s dividing fences guide lists swimming pool barriers among the things the Dividing Fences Act doesn’t cover, so cost-sharing for pool barrier work isn’t automatic. Talk to your neighbour first, and see our Dividing Fences Act WA guide for what the Act does cover.
Does WA have a pool fence compliance certificate?
Not like NSW or Queensland. As far as we can tell, WA has no certificate scheme and doesn’t require one at sale or lease. Searches for “pool fence compliance certificate WA” often return pages from other states, so double-check the source.
What you get instead is the council inspection. For a new pool, the builder gives the council a Notice of Completion (form BA7) within seven days of finishing, and the council inspects within 30 days of knowing the pool is complete.
If you’re selling, ask your council for your last inspection date. Buyers often check the barrier in a pre-purchase inspection, and private inspectors offer voluntary checks. Those reports aren’t a council certificate.
Need a quote to fix a failed pool fence?
If the fault is the fence, gate or panels, give MKB Fencing a bell for a written quote. We work across Perth, including Morley, Belmont, Midland, Balcatta and Victoria Park.
FAQ
What are the regulations for pool fences in Western Australia?
A pool or spa that can hold more than 300 mm of water needs a compliant safety barrier under the Building Regulations 2012 and AS 1926.1-2012. Our regulations guide has the detail.
Is it illegal to not have a fence around your pool?
Yes in WA. A pool or spa that can hold more than 300 mm of water needs a compliant barrier, and councils can fine owners who don’t provide one.
What is the legal height of a fence around a pool?
The barrier must be at least 1.2 m high, and the gap and non-climbable zone rules apply too. Check our regulations guide for the full list.
Who inspects pool fences in WA?
Your local government. Inspectors can enter your property under the Building Act 2011.
How often are pool fences inspected in WA?
At least once every four years, and within 30 days of the council knowing that a new pool is complete.