Inspected by Ryan Gaw, VBA-registered Pool Safety Inspector
Licence IN-PS 100055 · Building Inspector (Pool Safety), licensed by the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the VBA)
What Is a Form 23 Pool Safety Certificate?
The Form 23 Certificate of Pool and Spa Barrier Compliance is an official document issued by a licensed pool safety inspector — also called a pool certifier in Victoria. It certifies that your pool or spa barrier complies with the relevant safety standards under the Building Act 1993 and Building Regulations 2018. It's also what most people mean when they search for a swimming pool compliance certificate — same document, different name. For what pool compliance actually covers — the barrier standard, fence and gate rules, and how to get there — see our pool compliance Victoria guide.
The certificate certifies compliance on the inspection date. It must be lodged with council within 30 days of issue. Under Victoria's Building Regulations 2018, pool barriers require re-inspection on a four-yearly cycle — every registered pool in the state is now on that rolling cycle, regardless of when it was built.
Lodgement process, fees and penalties vary a little by council. If your property is in Geelong or on the Bellarine, our City of Greater Geelong compliance guide covers registration, the council's online portal, the current Form 23 lodgement fee and the 4-year cycle in full. In the western corridor — Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit and the rest of the Wyndham growth suburbs — see the Wyndham City Council compliance guide instead, since the portal, fees and lodgement channel are genuinely different from Greater Geelong's. Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and the rest of Moorabool Shire have their own process too — see the Moorabool Shire compliance guide for what's confirmed and what to check directly with the shire. Torquay and the coast fall under the Surf Coast Shire compliance guide. And if you're in Point Lonsdale, check our Borough of Queenscliffe compliance guide first — the town straddles a council boundary, so which process applies depends on your exact address. Not sure your barrier will pass yet? Run through our swimming pool compliance checklist first.
When Do You Need a Form 23?
- Selling a property — Must obtain before settlement (lodge within 30 days of issue; re-inspect every 4 years)
- Leasing a property — Required before tenants move in (re-inspect every 4 years)
- Renting a property — Pool safety certificate required (re-inspect every 4 years)
- New pool installation — Must be certified before use
Form 23 Lodgement by Council
Registration, the online portal, fees and the lodgement channel all vary by council — even though the barrier standard itself is set statewide. Find your council below for the full local breakdown. Pool not registered with your council yet? See our pool registration guide for the Form 22 process first.
Form 23 Certificates by Suburb
Every suburb we cover, grouped by council — same $250 flat fee and same-day issue where compliant, wherever you are. Searched "pool inspection near me" and just want a flat suburb finder plus how to check an inspector's registration first? See our pool inspection near me guide.
Western Melbourne Corridor (Wyndham, Melton & Moorabool fringe)
Our Inspection Process
1. Book Your Inspection
Call us or use the contact form and we'll lock in a time that suits you.
2. Site Inspection
We check every barrier, gate and latch around the pool against the standard your pool was built under.
3. Receive Your Certificate
Usually within 48 hours if compliant. Re-inspection required every 4 years.
What Happens If My Pool Fails?
If your pool does not meet safety standards, we will provide a Non-Conformance Report (NCR) detailing the issues and required fixes. Once you have completed the repairs, book a re-inspection and we will certify your pool. For the full breakdown of what a pool safety inspection covers and who's allowed to sign one off, see our pool safety inspections Victoria page, or our pool safety barrier inspections page for the gate, latch and non-climbable zone detail.
Contact Us Today
Let's get your Form 23 sorted. We cover Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the rest of Victoria.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Form 23 Pool Safety Certificate
How long is a Form 23 pool safety certificate valid in Victoria?
A Form 23 is issued on the day of a passing inspection and certifies the barrier was compliant on that date; Victoria requires re-inspection every 4 years, and it must be lodged with council within 30 days of issue.
When do I need a Form 23 pool safety certificate?
When you sell, lease or rent a property with a pool or spa in Victoria. The barrier must be inspected and certified by a registered pool safety inspector before the certificate can be issued; once you have it, you lodge it with council within 30 days.
What happens if my pool doesn't pass?
You receive a Non-Conformance Report listing exactly what needs fixing. Once the work is done we re-inspect free of charge and, if compliant, issue your Form 23.
Does the Form 23 lodgement fee differ by council?
The barrier standard is set statewide, but the lodgement fee, portal and registration process are set by your local council. See the council-by-council links above for your area's specific fee and process, or check our Western Melbourne pool inspections hub if you're in the Wyndham corridor.
What the Form 23 barrier check looks at
When we inspect, a compliant barrier has to stand at least 1200 mm high, and we measure that from the finished ground level on the outside (the non-pool side) at the lowest point where the ground falls away. The gap underneath can't be more than 100 mm so a small child can't crawl beneath it, and the gaps between the vertical members can't exceed 100 mm either, so they can't squeeze through.
A barrier can be tall enough and still fail on the non-climbable zone — the clear space on the outside of the fence where a child would get a foothold to climb over. For pools built from 1 May 2010 that zone is a 900 mm arc; for pools from 1994 to 2010 it's 1200 mm. We work out which standard your pool was built under before we go near the tape measure.
Book your $250 all-inclusive pool inspection
Same-day Form 23 where compliant, free re-inspection if you don't pass first time. Call 0402 860 499 or book online.