Use the self-assessment checklists below to check your pool or spa barrier before your first inspection. This helps you understand the rules and reduce the number of inspections needed.
1
Register your pool or spa
Your pool or spa should be registered with your local council. If it is not, contact your local council first.
2
Book an inspection with us
Book an inspection with our registered pool inspectors and get your certificate — often on the same day.
3
Lodge your Form 23
Lodge the Certificate of Barrier Compliance (Form 23) with your council, generally within 30 days of issue.
Self-assessment checklists
Choose the checklist that matches when your pool or spa was installed. Each one is the official Victorian Building Authority (VBA) checklist. Work through it before your inspection to find and fix any issues early.
Want a plain-English summary first? Read our pool barrier & fence inspection guide for the full Victorian compliance checklist and how your Form 23 certificate works.
Pools and spas installed between 8 April 1991 and 30 April 2010
Before we visit, a quick self-check of your pool fence can catch the most common fails early — and often means your fence passes first time. Walk around your pool and check:
The gate swings shut and latches on its own from any position — and nothing is propping it open.
There is no gap bigger than 100mm anywhere — under the fence, between the bars, or beside the gate.
The fence is at least 1200mm high the whole way along.
Nothing climbable sits within 900mm of the outside of the fence — pots, chairs, a BBQ, the pool pump or low branches.
The fence and gate are in good repair — no loose panels, missing pickets or worn latches.