The short answer
Queensland's pool safety laws cover any pool or spa that can hold 300mm or more of water, including portable and inflatable pools. The fence must have:
- A height of at least 1200mm from finished ground level.
- No gap under the fence, and no hole or gap anywhere, greater than 100mm.
- At least one gap of 900mm or more between rails - the non-climbable zone.
- Gates that do not open towards the pool and that self-close and self-latch from any open position, with the outside latch at least 1500mm from the ground.
You also need to register the pool with the QBCC, and a pool safety certificate to sell or lease the property.
Pool fence cost calculator
Measure the length of fence the pool needs - leave out any wall of the house that forms part of the barrier. Prices are the per-metre bands from our fencing cost guide.
Estimated pool fence cost$6,000 to $16,000
- Fence
- Pool fencing — glass (per m), 20 m
- Price row
- $300 to $800 per metre
Gates are extra: a single gate is $250 to $650 on our fencing cost guide.
The fence and the non-climbable zone
Height is measured from finished ground level to the top of the fence. If the fence cannot have a non-climbable zone on the outside, it can instead be built at least 1800mm high with the 900mm non-climbable zone on the inside.
Movable objects near the fence - chairs, pot plants, barbeques - must be kept at least 900mm away on the outside and 300mm away on the inside.
Gates and latches
A pool gate must not open towards the pool and must self-close and self-latch from any open position. The latch must be at least 1500mm from the ground on the outside; a latch on the inside must be at least 150mm below the top of the gate and covered by a shield with a 450mm radius. Propping a pool gate open is an offence under the Building Act 1975 and can bring a fine or prosecution.
The standard that applies
Queensland has one pool safety standard, QDC MP 3.4 (Swimming pool barriers), which prescribes AS1926.1-2007 and AS1926.2-2007. Later versions of the Australian pool barrier standard do not apply in Queensland until they are given effect through the Building Regulation and the QDC.
Pool safety certificates
- You need a certificate when buying, selling or leasing a property with a pool, unless a current certificate is already in place.
- Only a pool safety inspector licensed by the QBCC can issue one.
- It is valid for 1 year for a shared pool and 2 years for a non-shared pool.
- A home with a non-shared pool cannot be leased unless a certificate is in effect.
- A seller with no certificate must lodge a Form 36 notice of no pool safety certificate with the QBCC and give the buyer a copy before settlement; the buyer must then get a certificate within 90 days of settlement.
- After a non-conformity notice, the same inspector must re-inspect the pool within 3 months.
Fines
Councils enforce the pool safety standard and can fine the owner of a non-compliant pool even if a certificate is in place. Local governments issue on-the-spot fines of over $900 for individuals and over $2,600 for corporations; the QBCC issues on-the-spot fines of over $2,000 for failing to get a pool safety certificate when a property is sold or leased; and courts can impose penalties of over $20,000 for individuals and over $100,000 for corporations.
Pool fences on a shared boundary
The pool owner pays the full cost of dividing fence work needed for the pool fence to comply. If you cannot agree with the neighbour, you must give them a Form 39 notice at least 14 days before starting pool fencing work on the dividing fence - or at least 1 month before if the neighbour also has a pool.
What a pool fence costs
Prices from our fencing cost guide:
- Pool fencing — glass (per m): $300 to $800 per metre
- Pool fencing — aluminium (per m): $100 to $350 per metre
- Fence gate — single: $250 to $650
Ask the installer to confirm in writing that the fence, gate and latch will meet your state's standard, and who arranges the inspection or certificate.
Frequently asked questions
How high does a pool fence need to be in QLD?
At least 1200mm, measured from finished ground level to the top of the fence. A fence with the non-climbable zone on the inside must be at least 1800mm high.
What is the maximum gap under a pool fence in QLD?
100mm between finished ground level and the bottom of the fence, and no hole or gap anywhere in the fence greater than 100mm.
How high does a pool gate latch need to be in QLD?
At least 1500mm from the ground on the outside. A latch on the inside must be at least 150mm below the top of the gate and covered by a 450mm-radius shield.
How long is a pool safety certificate valid in QLD?
1 year for a shared pool and 2 years for a non-shared pool. Only a QBCC-licensed pool safety inspector can issue one.
Can I sell a house in QLD without a pool safety certificate?
Yes, but the seller must lodge a Form 36 notice of no pool safety certificate with the QBCC and give the buyer a copy before settlement, and the buyer must get a certificate within 90 days of settlement.
Does an inflatable pool need a fence in QLD?
Yes, if it can hold 300mm or more of water: the pool safety laws include portable and inflatable pools.
What is the fine for a non-compliant pool fence in QLD?
Local governments issue on-the-spot fines of over $900 for individuals and over $2,600 for corporations, and courts can impose penalties of over $20,000 for individuals.
Compare quotes from local pool fencing installers, and ask each one to confirm the fence will meet the standard that applies to your pool.
Get pool fencing quotes →Sources
This guide summarises the law; it is not legal advice. The rules for your property can turn on its date, its council and any approval it carries - check with your council or the state regulator below. Checked against these pages in October 2026:
- Buy, sell or lease a property with a pool | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-owner-hub/swimming-pools/buy-sell-lease-property-pool
- Inspect and certify a pool | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-owner-hub/swimming-pools/inspect-certify-pool
- Swimming pool safety laws | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-owner-hub/swimming-pools/swimming-pool-safety-laws
- Local council's role in pool safety | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-owner-hub/swimming-pools/local-councils-role-pool-safet
- Pool fences | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-owner-hub/swimming-pools/pool-safety-standard/pool-fenc
- Gates, latches and hinges | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-owner-hub/swimming-pools/pool-safety-standard/gates-lat
- Non-climbable zones | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-owner-hub/swimming-pools/pool-safety-standard/non-climb
- qbcc.qld.gov.au (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-11/guide-pools-safety.pdf
- Register a pool | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-owner-hub/swimming-pools/register-pool
- Pool safety laws (qld.gov.au) · www.qld.gov.au/housing/buying-owning-home/pool-safety/pool-laws-and-standards/la
- housing.qld.gov.au (housing.qld.gov.au) · www.housing.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0034/58984/guideline-owner-agent-s
Related guides
- Pool fence laws in Australia: the rules by state
- Pool fence laws in NSW
- Pool fence laws in Victoria
- Pool fence laws in WA
- Pool fence laws in South Australia
- Dividing fence laws: who pays, state by state
- Fencing Cost Per Metre in Australia (2026)
- How much does a swimming pool cost in Australia?
- Fence Calculator: Colorbond, Timber and Pool Fence Cost