All pools and spas in the City of Canning are required to have building approval, compliant safety barriers and regular inspections.
If you’re thinking of installing a pool or spa, please read through the below information about inspections, installations and safety guidelines.
Installing a pool or spa
If you’re thinking of installing a new pool or spa, please read the Building Commission of WA’s fact sheet, which explains the permit process and your responsibilities.
Apply for a swimming pool or spa and the associated fencing by submitting the required form to our Building Services team. Visit the Building Commission Website for the forms.
Pool inspections
The City of Canning is required by law to inspect pool and spa barriers for safety. Inspections must occur with no more than four years between inspections. Under the Building Act 2011, pool inspectors have a legal right to enter properties to conduct these inspections. Inspections are undertaken with prior notification.
To learn more about your pool inspection, please contact us.
Self-assessment checklists
Self-assessment checklists can give you a sign about whether your pool or spa barrier meets the relevant Australian Standards.
There are different standards depending on when your pool was installed. To find the right self-assessment checklist, you will need to know when the pool or spa was installed:
Whilst the self-assessment checklists are a helpful guide, the City’s inspector uses more comprehensive checklists, which may cause a different outcome.
For more information on pools and spas installed prior to 5 November 2001, read the Building Commission’s booklet about what you need to know to ensure your pool or spa is compliant.
Pool and spa safety
- always close pool and spa gates
- ensure the gate self-closes and self-latches from all positions
- remove all climbable items from the pool or spa fence
- maintain pool and spa barriers, but remember – there is no substitute for good supervision
- check on dangerous skimmer boxes.
Skimmer boxes
Skimmer boxes can be dangerous. Children have suffered serious and fatal injuries because of open top skimmer boxes.
We recommend you make the skimmer box safe by buying a skimmer box conversion kit from your local pool shop. These kits can be purchased for a minimal cost and immediately improve the safety of your skimmer box.
For more information about the dangers of skimmer boxes, please read the product safety alert.
Portable pools
Inflatable pools and portable pools containing water more than 300mm deep are required to have a compliant barrier installed that restricts access by young children.
Use these resources to ensure your inflatable or portable pool is safe:
Pool and spa removal
The requirements for a safe removal of spas and pools are explained within our Pool and Spa Decommission information sheet.
Settlement enquiries
If you are purchasing a property with a pool or spa, we recommend you condition the purchase subject to a compliance report on the safety barrier provided by the Local Government.
To request either a copy of the most recent pool barrier inspection report or a site visit by one of our Pool Inspectors, submit an application through My Canning.