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 Certificate?
The Form 23 Certificate of Pool Safety (also known as a Certificate of Compliance) is an official document issued by a licensed pool safety inspector. It certifies that your pool or spa complies with the relevant safety standards under the Building Act 1993 and Building Regulations 2018.
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.
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
Our Inspection Process
1. Book Your Inspection
Call us or use our contact form to schedule a convenient time.
2. Site Inspection
We assess all safety barriers, gates, and pool area thoroughly.
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.
Contact Us Today
Get your Form 23 certificate sorted quickly. We serve Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, and all of Victoria.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Form 23 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?
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 and lodged.
What happens if my pool doesn’t pass?
You receive a Form 24 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.
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.