In this section

Legislation for swimming pools changed on 1 January 2017. The aim is to prevent drowning and injury to young children by restricting unsupervised access to residential pools.

Even if you don’t have young children on your property yourself – it is important that your pool continues to keep young children safe (also see MBIE’s safety guidance for pool owners).

Key points

  • Residential swimming pools (including portable or temporary pools) that are filled or partially filled with water to 400mm deep or more must have physical barriers that restrict access to the pool or the immediate pool area to unsupervised children as a requirement of the Building Act
  • Small heated pools may not require barriers if other specific safety requirements are met.
  • The pool barrier should prevent young children moving directly to the pool from the house, other buildings, garden paths, or other areas of the property normally open to them
  • The property owner and any tenants on a property where a residential pool is located are all responsible for ensuring these barriers remain compliant.
  • You need a building consent to construct a pool barrier.
  • There are two published acceptable solutions that provide ways of constructing pool barriers that are deemed to comply with the requirements of Building Code clause F.9
  • Your pool (including portable or temporary pools) must be on our pool register and be checked for compliance at least every three years as a requirement under the Building Act.
  • Portable or temporary pools can be added to our register by completing this form Advise my pool and email to building.compliance@selwyn.govt.nz.