Common fence problems and how they're fixed
Most failed inspections come down to a handful of defects. Here's what each usually means for the repair.
Gaps under the fence
The gap between the finished ground and the bottom of the fence can't be more than 10 cm. Pavers settle, mulch washes away and dogs dig. The fix is usually to build the ground back up with a plinth, edging or pavers, or to lower the panel.
Fence too low
The barrier must be at least 1.2 m high all the way around, measured from the finished ground. Raised garden beds, new decking or a step built against the fence can reduce the effective height. Panels may need raising or replacing, or the step or bed moving.
Something climbable nearby
Nothing a child could climb can sit within 90 cm of the outside of the fence, or 30 cm inside. Often that's just furniture to move. Fixed items like retaining walls, trees, air-conditioning units or a horizontal rail on the outside may need trimming, shielding or rebuilding.
Loose glass, posts and spigots
A frameless glass panel that moves, a loose spigot clamp or a rusted post can let a gap open up or make the barrier unsafe. Clamps can usually be re-tightened or replaced; damaged glass panels need replacing.
Boundary fences
Where a boundary fence forms part of the barrier, it must be at least 1.8 m high from inside the pool area. A shorter boundary fence can be raised, or a separate pool fence built inside it.
Who does the repairs
Any fencing contractor or handyman can do pool fence repairs, but residential fencing work valued at more than $5,000 including GST needs a contractor licence. Glazing and metal fabrication licences also cover some fence types. A pool servicing licence doesn't cover fencing.
You choose who does the repairs. Once repairs are done, the certifier or council re-inspects before issuing a certificate. See pool fence repair costs for published prices.
New pool fencing
Replacing an old timber fence, fencing a new pool or spa, or swapping to frameless glass or aluminium? New fencing has to meet the current Australian Standard, AS 1926.1-2012. Once a barrier is altered, the current standard applies and earlier exemptions stop.
New pool fencing prices in Sydney
| Fencing | Published price | Who publishes it |
|---|---|---|
| Glass pool fencing, low / typical / high | $345 / $575 / $920 per metre, incl. GST | What's The Damage, Sydney, October 2026 |
| Aluminium pool fencing, low / typical / high | $115 / $230 / $400 per metre, incl. GST | What's The Damage, Sydney, October 2026 |
| Single pool gate, low / typical / high | $290 / $575 / $745 each, incl. GST | What's The Damage, Sydney, October 2026 |
| Frameless glass, spigot | $300 – $400 per metre | North Shore Fencing and Gates, Lindfield |
| Semi-frameless glass | $200 – $300 per metre | North Shore Fencing and Gates, Lindfield |
| Frameless glass | About $500 – $900 per metre, incl. GST | Glass Balustrade Authority, Oatley, May 2025 |
| Frameless glass gate | $600 – $1,500 per gate, incl. GST | Glass Balustrade Authority, Oatley, May 2025 |
Installed prices as each publisher states them, checked 16 October 2026. North Shore Fencing and Gates doesn't say whether its prices include GST.
Glass costs more than aluminium. Gates, site access, removing the old fence and any concrete or plinth work add to the price, so ask for a written quote that lists each.
What to send with your request
- The certifier's defect list, if you have one
- The fence type: frameless glass, semi-frameless, aluminium, timber or masonry
- A rough length of the problem section, or of the whole fence for new fencing
- Your re-inspection, settlement or lease date
Common questions
Does a fencing contractor need a licence for pool fence repairs?
Residential fencing work valued at more than $5,000 including GST needs a contractor licence in NSW. A pool servicing licence doesn't cover fencing. Check a licence on Service NSW.
Can the fencing contractor give me a compliance certificate?
No. Only a council or a registered certifier can inspect the barrier and issue a certificate of compliance. Once the repairs are done, book a re-inspection with the certifier or council that inspected the pool.
How do I fix a gap under my pool fence?
It depends on the cause. Where pavers or soil have dropped, the ground can be built back up with a concrete plinth, edging or pavers. Where the fence itself sits too high, the panels may need lowering or a bottom rail added. The gap must end up no more than 10 cm from the finished ground level.
My boundary fence is part of the pool barrier. What height does it need to be?
At least 1.8 m, measured from inside the pool area, with no footholds that would let a child climb it from the outside.
Will I need council approval for a new pool fence?
Some fencing work needs approval and some doesn't, depending on what's being built. Ask the contractor, and check with your council before replacing a whole barrier.
Where this information comes from
The rules and prices on this page come from these published pages, checked on 16 October 2026.
- 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)
- NSW Government: Fencing work licences · When residential fencing work needs a contractor licence
- NSW Government: Swimming pool repairs and servicing work · Licence category for pool servicing, which excludes fencing
- Service NSW: Check a builder or tradesperson's licence · Public licence check for home building contractors
- What's The Damage: Fencing cost Sydney · Sydney fencing cost guide, prices including GST, verified October 2026
- North Shore Fencing and Gates: Glass pool fencing · Lindfield fencing contractor's installed prices (undated)
- Glass Balustrade Authority: Glass pool fencing cost · Oatley glazing contractor's installed prices including GST (cost guide, May 2025)
Related guides
- Pool fence height in NSWThe 1.2 m and 1.8 m heights, the gap limits, and how to measure the 900 mm non-climbable zone and the 300 mm inside zone yourself.
- Pool fence and gate repair cost in SydneyPublished prices for pool gate repairs, fence repairs and new glass or aluminium pool fencing, and when the work needs a licensed contractor.
