Form 23 vs Form 24
Two forms, one goal — a safe, compliant barrier. A Form 23 says your barrier passes; a Form 24 is the step in between. Here is exactly how they differ and what to do next.
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Form 23 vs Form 24 at a glance
Both forms come from the same inspection of your pool or spa barrier. Which one you receive turns on a single thing: whether the barrier meets the safety standard on the day. For the full detail on the certificate itself, see our Form 23 explainer.
Form 23 — it complies
The Certificate of Pool and Spa Barrier Compliance. Issued when the barrier meets the standard, then lodged with your council. This is the document you want — proof your pool is compliant.
Form 24 — it does not (yet)
Lodged with the council when the barrier does not comply. It is a record of non-compliance, not a fine — a marker that the barrier needs work before it can be certified.
For the owner the two forms mean quite different things. A Form 23 is the document you can hand to a buyer, a tenant or the council: the Certificate of Pool and Spa Barrier Compliance, valid for four years from the day it is issued. A Form 24 is lodged only where a barrier cannot be made compliant, which is rare — far more often a barrier just needs a small fix and a re-check, and that re-inspection is included in the flat $170 ex GST fee.
Who lodges each one is the same answer both times: the VBA-registered building inspector, building surveyor or municipal building surveyor who carried out the inspection. It is not something an owner files, a fencing contractor signs off, or a pool shop can arrange. Any council fees for registration or lodgement sit outside our fee and are paid to your council directly.
One thing worth saying plainly, because it worries people: a Form 24 is not a fine and not a penalty. No money is charged because of it and nothing is taken away — it is a record, and the council simply knows the barrier is not yet compliant. What matters is what you do next, and for almost every pool that is a short list of adjustments and a second look.
Neither form is a judgement about your pool itself. Both come out of the same checks on the barrier — the gate closing and latching on its own, the 1200mm height, no gap a 100mm sphere can pass, the 900mm non-climbable zone and a readable CPR sign. Meet those and you have a Form 23 in hand; miss one and you have a list.
What to do if you receive a Form 24
A Form 24 is not the end of the road — it is a clear, fixable to-do list, and almost every barrier that gets one goes on to pass. Here is how to turn it into a Form 23:
- Read the inspector's list — it names each item that did not meet the standard, such as a gate that does not self-latch, a climbable object in the non-climbable zone, or a missing CPR sign.
- Fix the listed items — small jobs like adjusting a latch or moving a pot plant are often quick; a few may need a fencing contractor.
- Book a re-inspection — we return and re-check just the items on the list, not the whole barrier from scratch.
- Get your Form 23 — once the barrier passes, we issue the certificate and lodge it with your council.
The certificate you end up with is the Certificate of Barrier Compliance — the same Form 23 a compliant barrier gets first time. A Form 24 simply adds one fix-and-recheck step along the way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Form 23 and a Form 24?
A Form 23 is the Certificate of Pool and Spa Barrier Compliance — it is issued when your barrier meets the standard. A Form 24 is lodged with the council when the barrier does not comply; it records the non-compliance so it is on file while you fix the barrier.
Is a Form 24 a fine or a penalty?
No. A Form 24 is not a fine. It simply records that the barrier did not comply on the day of inspection. It is a normal step on the way to compliance — you fix the listed items, re-inspect, and receive your Form 23.
Who lodges the Form 24?
The VBA-registered inspector lodges the Form 24 with your local council after an inspection where the barrier does not pass. Once you have fixed the items and the barrier passes a re-inspection, the same inspector can issue and lodge your Form 23.
I received a Form 24 — what do I do now?
Work through the list of items the inspector gave you, get them fixed, then book a re-inspection. Once the barrier meets the standard, we issue your Form 23 and lodge it with the council, and you are compliant.
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