Who can inspect and certify a pool
In NSW, inspecting a pool barrier and issuing a certificate of compliance is certification work under the Building and Development Certifiers Act 2018. Only two kinds of people can do it: your local council, or a certifier registered with the NSW Building Commission in a class that covers swimming pools.
To register, a swimming pool inspector needs an approved training course, a Building Commission exam and a qualifying background, such as a building inspector registration, an endorsed contractor licence, or two years of council experience inspecting at least 20 pools.
How to check a certifier
- Ask for their registration number when you book.
- Search it on the Building Certifiers Public Register.
- Check the registration is current and the class covers swimming pools.
Be wary of anyone who offers a certificate without inspecting the pool, or who describes themselves as "accredited" without a registration number. Accreditation was the system before July 2020.
Questions to ask before booking
- What's included? The inspection, the certificate, a written defect list if it fails.
- What does a re-inspection cost? Published Sydney prices range widely, so ask.
- Is GST included? Some certifiers quote with it and some without.
- When can you come, and when will I get the certificate? Give them your settlement or lease date.
Prices are compared in the pool inspection cost guide.
What a certifier won't do
A certifier won't tell you how to sell or lease, and can't waive the rules for your pool. They assess the barrier against the standard that applies to it and record what they find. If your pool is unusual, such as a waterfront property, a very small or very large lot, or a pool built before 1990, ask them how it will be assessed before the visit.
Council or private certifier?
Council fees are set under clause 19 of the Swimming Pools Regulation 2018, and private certifiers set their own. Booking times vary, so ask when they can come if a sale or lease has a deadline. Your council's fees are on its area page.
Common questions
What's the difference between a pool inspector and a pool certifier?
In NSW they're the same registration. The NSW Government calls the class a swimming pool inspector, and Service NSW calls it a swimming pool certifier. Either way, they're registered to inspect pool barriers and issue certificates.
Can a pool builder or fencing company certify my pool?
Not unless the person is also a registered certifier. A fencing installer can't issue a certificate of compliance, whatever their marketing says.
How do I check a pool certifier's registration?
Search their name or registration number on the Building Certifiers Public Register. Ask for the number when you book.
Is a private certifier's certificate the same as a council's?
Yes. A certificate of compliance has the same effect whether a council or a registered certifier issues it, and it's valid for 3 years.
Can I choose who repairs the pool after the inspection?
Yes. Any licensed fencing contractor or handyman can do the repairs, and the certifier who inspected doesn't have to be the one who fixes it.
Where this information comes from
The rules on this page come from these published pages, checked on 16 October 2026.
- NSW Government: Applying to become a certifier · Registration classes for certifiers, including swimming pool inspectors
- Service NSW: Apply for swimming pool certifier registration · What a registered swimming pool certifier can do
- NSW Building Certifiers Public Register · Public register for checking a certifier's registration
- NSW Government: Owning a pool or spa, your obligations · Building Commission NSW guide to barriers, registration, sale and lease certificates and CPR signs (updated 16 March 2026)
