Pool Safety Certificate Sunshine Coast

In Queensland, you’ll need a pool safety certificate if you’re selling, renting, or listing a property with a pool for short stays like Airbnb. If you’re selling, the certificate should be sorted before settlement, but if it’s not ready, you can provide a notice instead—then the buyer has 90 days after the sale to get it. If you’re a landlord, the certificate needs to be in place before signing a new lease. And for shared pools, like those in unit blocks, the certificate should be clearly displayed near the pool.

Short-term holiday rentals also need to have this certificate before the property is advertised. It’s all about making sure pools are safe and meet legal standards to help protect families, guests, and residents.

Yes, all pools and spas must be registered with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). This applies to all residential pools and spas, including portable and indoor ones, that can be filled with water to a depth of 300mm or more, have a volume exceeding 2,000 litres, or are equipped with a filtration system.

Unregistered pools can incur fines, so it’s essential to complete this step.

Yes, Queensland regulations stipulate that you need to retain the same inspector for at least 90 days, after which you may choose another inspector. Engaging a new inspector prematurely could result in penalties.

If your original inspector is unavailable—due to circumstances like illness or extended absence—you may request permission from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) to engage a different inspector during that period.

During inspections, gates undergo specific testing to ensure they close correctly and automatically. Testing is done with increments of 2 cm, 5 cm, 20 cm, and 60 cm, along with a full swing, to confirm proper closure and function.

Yes, it’s essential to have a CPR sign displayed in the pool area. This sign must be near the shallow end and should be visible at all times, as it serves as a critical safety guideline in emergencies.

Yes, in Queensland, it is mandatory to have a compliant fence or barrier around any swimming pool or spa capable of holding water to a depth of 300mm or more. This requirement applies to both permanent and portable pools and spas. The purpose of these regulations is to prevent unsupervised access by young children and reduce the risk of drowning incidents.

In Queensland, pool safety certificates are valid for:

• 2 years for non-shared pools (e.g., private pools at standalone houses).
• 1 year for shared pools (e.g., pools in apartment complexes or hotels).

These timeframes apply regardless of how many times the property is sold or leased during the certificate’s validity period. A new certificate is only required if the previous one has expired or if the property is being sold or leased without a current certificate.

You’ll receive a Form 26 (Nonconformity Notice). You then have 3 months to fix the issues — using the same inspector for follow-up. Smart Pool Safety provides a free reinspection once issues have been rectified. 

You can check whether a pool is registered and if it has a current safety certificate by using the QBCC Pool Register. Simply enter the property’s street address into the search tool. This will show if the pool is officially registered, if the pool safety certificate is valid, when the certificate expires, and additional details.