Inner west pools are often squeezed into narrow terrace and semi blocks. The fence may run right along a side boundary, and the back door may open straight onto the pool area. Doors and windows generally can't form part of the barrier any more, so a certifier will look closely at how the house meets the pool.
Four councils cover the area this page serves. Canada Bay warns on its own website that it is experiencing significant delays with inspections, so a private certifier may be the faster option if you have a settlement or lease date.
What each council charges
Council inspection fees are set under the Swimming Pools Regulation 2018, so a council is usually the cheapest way to get a certificate. Private certifiers charge more and set their own booking times. These are the figures each council publishes, with the date of the page they come from.
City of Canada Bay
Fee: $150, plus $100 for second and later inspections.
Adopted in 2013, the program inspects tourist and visitor accommodation and multi-occupancy developments every 3 years, and pools before a sale or lease on request. The council says it is experiencing significant delays.
Burwood Council
Fee: Charged under the council's adopted fees and charges. No figure is published on its pool pages.
A risk-based program was endorsed on 20 May 2025. High-risk pools inspected every 3 years include serviced apartments, short-term rental accommodation and residences with more than 2 occupancies. The council may also select pools at random from the Register.
Source: Burwood Council swimming pool barrier inspection program (20 May 2025)
Strathfield Council
Fee: $150 for an inspection. No re-inspection fee is listed on the page.
The council runs a proactive inspection program.
Inner West Council
Fee: No current fee page was found. Ask the council for its current fee before booking.
The council's application form says some types of premises must have their pool inspected every 3 years.
Source: Inner West Council pool compliance application form (March 2018)
Compare these with the prices private certifiers publish in the pool inspection cost guide.
Short-term rentals in the inner west
Burwood's 2025 program treats short-term rental accommodation as high risk and inspects it every 3 years. Camden's program similarly names Airbnb as tourist accommodation. If you let out a home with a pool for short stays, expect council to treat the pool as tourist accommodation.
We found no official exemption for holiday or short-term lets from the lease certificate rules, so ask the council or a certifier before assuming one applies.
Suburbs covered in the Inner West
Requests are taken from these suburbs and the streets around them. Include yours in the form.
- Balmain
- Leichhardt
- Marrickville
- Ashfield
- Summer Hill
- Haberfield
- Five Dock
- Drummoyne
- Abbotsford
- Concord
- Burwood
- Strathfield
What to send with your request
- The suburb, and whether you're selling, leasing, answering a council notice or just checking.
- The settlement, lease or council date you need to meet.
- The pool type (in-ground, above-ground, spa) and the fence type (glass, aluminium, timber or a boundary fence).
- Any earlier inspection report, so the certifier can re-check the listed items.
Common questions
Why is Canada Bay Council slow to inspect pools?
The council says on its swimming pools page that it is experiencing significant delays providing the service. If you have a date to meet, a private registered certifier may be able to inspect sooner.
Can a back door open into the pool area?
NSW Government guidance says doors and windows can no longer form part of a pool barrier. Some older pools were assessed differently, so ask a certifier how it applies to yours.
Does Burwood Council inspect Airbnb pools?
Its 2025 program lists serviced apartments, including short-term rental accommodation, among the high-risk pools it inspects every 3 years.
