The Australian Capital Territory introduced a new home pool safety scheme in 2024 and amended it again in 2026. Here's everything an ACT pool owner needs to plan, build, and pass a compliant glass pool fence - the new scheme, the standard, the 2028 deadline, and the costs.
The short version
In the Australian Capital Territory, pool fencing is governed by the Building Act 2004 and the Building (General) Regulation 2008. The ACT's home swimming pool safety scheme commenced on 1 May 2024, with a four-year transition period for existing pools. Barriers must comply with the National Construction Code and AS 1926.1.
The defining feature: every existing home pool and spa needs a compliant barrier meeting the prescribed safety standards by 1 May 2028. Pools built, altered, or installed since 1 May 2013 have already been required to be compliant. Compliance is confirmed through a compliance status certificate issued by a licensed building certifier.
What the law requires
The 2024 scheme and the key dates
The ACT scheme works around two dates:
- 1 May 2013: any pool or spa built, altered, or installed since this date has already been legally required to meet the prescribed safety standards. Work on these pools should be minimal
- 1 May 2028: the end of the four-year transition period. From this date, all residential pools and spas must have a compliant barrier, and a compliance certificate is required for disclosure when selling or leasing
During the transition period (1 May 2024 to 30 April 2028), if you sell or lease you must disclose the compliance status of your pool - but a full compliance certificate isn't required for disclosure until 1 May 2028.
This is the central thing for ACT pool owners: if your pool is older and hasn't been brought up to the current standard, 1 May 2028 is the deadline.
The 2026 amendments
The Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Act 2026 clarified the scheme:
- The "compliance certificate" was renamed a compliance status certificate for accuracy
- Exemption categories were clarified - a complete exemption (no certificate required) versus a partial Ministerial exemption (certificate required for the non-exempt portions)
- Certificate deadlines were simplified ahead of the 2028 deadline
- It was clarified that failing to obtain or submit required documents can be an offence
The barrier itself (AS 1926.1)
Your barrier must meet the National Construction Code and AS 1926.1 (with AS 1926.2 as applicable at the time of construction or alteration):
- Height: at least 1200mm measured from the finished ground level on the outside of the fence. A boundary fence used as a pool barrier must be at least 1800mm on the pool side
- Non-climbable zone: no climbable objects within a 900mm zone around the outside of the barrier - no furniture, pot plants, pumps, BBQs, or stored items
- Gaps: no gap larger than 100mm under the fence or between any vertical elements
- Gates: must be self-closing and self-latching from any position, swing away from the pool, with the latch at least 1500mm above ground or shielded
- Glass: Grade A safety glass marked to AS/NZS 2208
- Doors, gates, and covers providing access to the pool must be kept securely closed when not in use
Spas - the standing exemption
The 2026 amendments established a standing exemption for all spas with a lockable, child-resistant lid, regardless of when the spa was installed. Any compliant spa lid now qualifies for the standing exemption regardless of age. This is more generous than states like South Australia, which don't accept a cover as a substitute at all.
Compliance status certificates
Compliance in the ACT is confirmed through a compliance status certificate issued by a licensed building certifier or an ACT Government authorised person. The certifier verifies that the barrier complies with the Building Code and is constructed properly.
Compliance can also be demonstrated in some cases through building approval documentation or a certificate of occupancy that isn't older than five years.
Certificates issued under the current scheme are valid through to 2032 - and all certificates issued until May 2028 are valid for four years regardless of when they were obtained, so there's no downside to getting yours early.
Access Canberra enforces the scheme through pre-sale inspections, rental checks, random audits, and complaint responses.
Who inspects, and what it costs
Inspections are carried out by ACT Government authorised persons or licensed building certifiers.
Typical 2026 fees (from an authorised provider):
- Standard inspection + compliance status certificate (standalone dwelling): around $595–$600 + GST - includes site assessment, certificate issuance, and government lodgement
- Initial assessment of a non-compliant pool: around $595 + GST - provides a rectification advice report listing what needs fixing
- Re-inspection: around $265 + GST - confirms the fixes and issues the certificate
Government lodgement is bundled into the certifier fee. Fees vary by provider - always use an ACT Government authorised person.
Penalties
The scheme carries offences and penalties. From 1 May 2024, owners must maintain their pool or spa barrier as an effective child-resistant barrier, and residents must keep doors, gates, and covers securely closed when not in use. From 1 May 2028, it will be an offence to have a non-compliant regulated pool barrier. Offences and penalties also apply for failing to disclose the required information on sale or lease, and for failing to obtain or lodge required documents. Check the current penalty amounts with Access Canberra.
The most common reasons ACT pools fail
- Gate not self-closing or self-latching from every position
- Climbable objects in the non-climbable zone - furniture, pots, pumps, BBQs within 900mm
- Fence height below 1200mm, or boundary fence below 1800mm on the pool side
- Gaps over 100mm under the barrier or between elements
- Doors, gates, or covers left open when not in use
Glass that isn't permanently marked to AS/NZS 2208 has to be replaced - you can't add the marking later. Check your glass on delivery.
Building a compliant ACT pool fence with Barrier Hub
Our calculator builds a complete list of materials that meets AS 1926.1 - every glass panel, spigot, hinge, latch, fixing, and gate, sized to your measurements and priced at the real cost. Compliance is built into the calculator, so you can't configure a fence that fails the height, gap, or gate rules.
Build your ACT-compliant pool fence →
Want to talk through your specific situation - your measurements, your substrate, or what the 2028 deadline means for your pool? Ask Joe, our AI assistant. Joe knows the ACT scheme and can walk you through your project. Note that the compliance status certificate itself must come from a licensed ACT building certifier or authorised person - Joe helps you build a barrier that will pass.