Pool Certificate of Compliance in Victoria
When someone asks for a pool “certificate of compliance” in Victoria, they mean the Form 23 barrier certificate. Here is how to be sure that is the document you actually need.
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A pool “certificate of compliance” is the Form 23
In Victoria there is no separate document literally titled “pool certificate of compliance”. The certificate people mean is the Certificate of Pool and Spa Barrier Compliance, which the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) numbers as the Form 23. It is issued when your pool or spa safety barrier passes inspection, and it is what your council, conveyancer or agent is really asking for. For the full list of names this same document goes by, see our pool compliance certificate guide, or read exactly what a Form 23 covers.
One point matters most: this certificate covers the safety barrier only — the fence, gates, latches, the non-climbable zone and the CPR sign. It does not certify the pool shell, the water, the plumbing or any electrical work. Those are separate trades with their own paperwork.
Not every “certificate of compliance” is the pool one
The phrase “certificate of compliance” is used across several trades. Each is a different form, signed by a different registered person, for different work. If you were handed one of these, it is not your pool barrier certificate:
- Certificate of Electrical Safety — signed by a licensed electrician for electrical work, not the pool barrier
- Plumbing compliance certificate — issued by a licensed plumber for plumbing or drainage work
- Building work / occupancy paperwork — relates to construction, handled by the building surveyor
- Pool barrier certificate (Form 23) — the only one that certifies your pool or spa safety barrier
If you are selling, leasing, have built a new pool, or have had a council notice, the certificate you need is the Form 23. Book a VBA-registered barrier inspection and we issue it the moment your barrier complies.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 'pool certificate of compliance' the same as a Form 23?
Yes. In Victoria the certificate people call a 'pool certificate of compliance' is the Form 23 — the Certificate of Pool and Spa Barrier Compliance issued by the Victorian Building Authority when your safety barrier passes inspection. There is no separate pool document by any other name.
My electrician gave me a certificate of compliance — is that the pool one?
No. An electrician issues a Certificate of Electrical Safety for electrical work. That is a different document for a different trade. Your pool barrier certificate is the Form 23, and only a VBA-registered pool inspector can issue it.
Who issues the pool certificate of compliance in Victoria?
Only a building surveyor or building inspector registered with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). Our inspectors are VBA-registered and Doncaster-based, so the Form 23 we issue is valid to lodge with your council.
When do I need a pool certificate of compliance?
When you sell or lease a property with a pool or spa, when a new pool or spa is built, when your council sends a notice, and as a routine re-check every four years. Any pool or spa that holds water deeper than 300mm must be registered and certified.
Book your inspection & certificate
VBA-registered inspection and your Form 23 Certificate of Barrier Compliance, from $170 ex GST.