ACT guide
ACT Pool Safety Reforms: The 2028 Certificate Deadline
Every regulated ACT pool must meet the prescribed barrier standard by 1 May 2028. Pools built before May 2013 need a compliance certificate by then.
Updated November 2026
The ACT's home pool safety reforms started on 1 May 2024. They give owners until 1 May 2028 to make sure every regulated pool meets the prescribed barrier standard. Owners of pools built before 1 May 2013 must obtain a pool safety compliance certificate before that date and lodge it within 30 days. From 1 May 2028, a certificate is also needed to sell or lease a property with a pool.
Which pools are covered?
The scheme covers pools and spas that can hold more than 30 cm of water. Inflatable pools without a filter are excluded, as are demountable pools put up for three consecutive days or less.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 May 2024 | The reforms started. Sellers and landlords can provide a disclosure statement during the transition. |
| Before 1 May 2028 | Pools built before 1 May 2013 must obtain a compliance certificate and lodge it within 30 days. |
| 1 May 2028 | All regulated pools must meet the prescribed standard. Sales and leases need a certificate less than five years old. |
| Until about 1 May 2032 | Certificates issued for pre-2013 pools during the transition remain valid. |
Which standard applies?
For pools built or altered before 1 May 2023, the prescribed standard is the Building Code of Australia 2022 with AS 1926.1-2012 and AS 1926.2-2007. Pools built later must meet the Building Code that applied when they were built. The ACT adopted NCC 2025 from 1 May 2026, so new pools now use AS 1926.1:2024. ACT guidance still refers to BCA 2022 as the benchmark for older pools, so confirm with your certifier whether anything has changed.
Selling or leasing
During the transition, sellers and landlords can give a disclosure statement about the pool. Sellers of pools built before 2023 must also give buyers the government's pool owner guidance material. From 1 May 2028, you will need a compliance certificate less than five years old, or a certificate of occupancy less than five years old, to sell or lease.
Who can certify?
Certificates are issued by authorised persons. Licensed building surveyors (certifiers) automatically qualify. Certificates are lodged with the Construction Occupations Registrar.
Penalties
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Not maintaining the barrier | 30 penalty units ($4,800) |
| Not keeping gates and doors closed | 30 penalty units ($4,800) |
| No certificate for a pre-2013 pool by the deadline | 30 penalty units ($4,800) |
| Not lodging a certificate | 20 penalty units ($3,200) |
| Knowingly non-compliant and not fixed within 90 days | 60 penalty units ($9,600) |
Penalty amounts use the ACT individual penalty unit of $160.
How to prepare
- Check when your pool was built. Council, building approval or certificate of occupancy records help.
- Compare the barrier with the prescribed standard, using the ACT owner guidance.
- Book a certifier well before 2028. Demand is likely to build close to the deadline.
- Fix defects and lodge the certificate within 30 days of issue.
Check your deadline with the pool certificate due-date checker and compare barrier compliance providers in the ACT. See how the ACT compares in our pool safety laws by state guide.
Frequently asked questions
When do ACT pools need to comply?
All regulated pools must meet the prescribed barrier standard by 1 May 2028. Pools built before 1 May 2013 need a compliance certificate by then.
Do I need a pool certificate to sell in the ACT?
During the transition a disclosure statement can be used. From 1 May 2028, a certificate less than five years old is required for a sale or lease.
Who can issue an ACT pool compliance certificate?
An authorised person, including a licensed building surveyor, can issue the certificate.