How Close Can a Pool Fence Be to a Boundary Fence in NSW?

Request a Callback

Get one of our team members to give you a call to discuss your project!

Home / How Close Can a Pool Fence Be to a Boundary Fence in NSW?

Understanding your state or territory and local council guidelines in regards to pool fencing is vital to keeping you and your family, tenants, staff, customers, and visitors safe from drowning hazards – while avoiding costly penalties too.

Before you install a new pool fence, you need to review the existing layout and figure out how to design the new fence in a way that is safe and compliant, yet still offers plenty of room and makes the area feel spacious.

With this in mind, you may be asking yourself…

“How close can a pool fence be to a boundary fence in NSW?”

Good question, let’s find out the answer. Tweet

Good question, let’s find out the answer.

To save time and money, some pool owners use their boundary line fence to serve as part of the pool fence. Under certain requirements this arrangement does comply with NSW Pool Fence Laws. But what are the requirements?

For starters, the boundary fence in question must be at least 1.8m high. Any lower, and the fence cannot serve the purpose of a pool fence.

Secondly, the boundary fence must be outside the Non-Climbable Zone (NCZ) of 900mm.

According to NSW Pool Fence Laws, you must maintain a ‘non-climbable zone’ around the pool. The purpose of this zone is to prevent children from using nearby structures as an aid to climb the pool fence and access the pool.

According to the Australian Standard AS1926.1 – Safety Barriers for Swimming Pools, it states that:

Any trees, shrubs or any other objects such as a barbeque, pot plants, toys, ladders and chairs must not be within the 90cm non climbable zone.

This zone is measured in an arc shape from the top of the pool fence arching towards the ground.

It also includes the space extending 30cm inside the pool area – this space should also be cleared of any potential footholds or handholds.

Any horizontal climbable bars on the pool fence must also be spaced AT LEAST 90cm apart.[1]

What does this mean for you? If you use a portion of the boundary fence to serve as a pool fence – even if the fence in question has no horizontal bars or footings –, then the boundary fence in question is subject to Non-Climbable Zone regulations.

[1] https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/building-and-renovating/pools-and-pool-safety/pool-fencing-requirements

How to comply with NSW Pool Fence Laws

By far, the most reliable way to comply with pool fence regulations in your state, is to have it correctly designed and installed by professional fencing contractors.

When you approach a contractor, ask for proof of their knowledge with the relevant guidelines. Any experienced pool fencing contractor will know these laws back to front. If they don’t, look elsewhere until you find someone who does. After all, it’s your personal safety and finances on the line!

Most importantly, make sure you receive a Certificate of Compliance after installation. You must submit this document to your local council in a certain period of time (usually within 30 days). From there, you will get written confirmation stating:

The date the certificate was lodged
The date by which the next certificate is required to be lodged, which is 3 years after the previous certificate.

Dunn & Farrugia have over 50 years of experience in the design, supply, and installation of pool fencing for various residential and commercial applications.

For further advice on how close a pool fence can be to a boundary fence, contact us today. One of our knowledgeable staff will share their expert advice and prepare an obligation free quote for you.