Pool Inspections in Melbourne: What's Involved and What to Expect
If you've got a pool or spa in Melbourne and you're ready to get the compliance certificate sorted, this is the page that tells you exactly what happens — start to finish, no surprises.
The short answer: a VBA-registered inspector comes to your property, checks the barrier against the Australian Standard, talks you through anything that needs attention, and we handle the rest. We inspect the barrier, take care of minor repairs where needed, supply your Form 23 Certificate of Pool Barrier Compliance, and lodge it with your council for you. Simple and stress-free. You don't deal with council. You don't fill in a form. You don't chase paperwork.
This guide walks through booking, what happens on the day, what it costs, what you walk away with, and what to do if your pool needs a small fix to get over the line.
What we handle for you
We inspect the pool or spa barrier
We handle minor repairs and adjustments on the spot where possible
We supply your Form 23 Certificate of Pool Barrier Compliance
We lodge it directly with your council
What you handle
Answering the door.
Who should book an inspection
You should book a Melbourne pool barrier inspection if any of these apply:
Your current certificate is due to expire (re-certification is required every four years).
You've had a council notice about a missing or lapsed certificate.
You're selling your home — a current certificate is required before settlement.
You're a landlord or property manager — the certificate must be current and lodged.
You've just moved in and aren't sure whether the previous owner certified the pool.
You've made changes to the pool, fence, gate or surrounds since the last inspection.
If you're not sure where you stand, call us on 0438 383 752 and we'll talk it through before you book.
First-time owners — the cornerstone guide to VIC pool fence regulations walks through the law, the obligations, and the four-year cycle.
Two ways to start: FaceTime first, or full inspection
FaceTime / video pre-inspection — $99 + GST. A 30-minute video walk-through with an inspector. We look at the barrier with you on camera, give you a plain-language verdict on where you stand, and tell you what (if anything) needs attention before the full inspection. If you book the full inspection within 30 days, the $99 is credited toward it.
Full inspection and Form 23 lodgement — $299 + GST. A VBA-registered inspector at your property, the full compliance check, your certificate on the day where compliant, and council lodgement handled for you.
If your barrier is recent or you're confident it's compliant, go straight to the full inspection. If you're not sure, or you want a no-commitment read before spending the $299, start with the FaceTime.
What happens on the day
Most jobs are done in a single visit. Here's the actual sequence from your side and ours.
Before we arrive. We confirm the booking by SMS the day before with a two-hour window. We ask you to make sure the inspector can access the whole barrier — both sides of any boundary fence, the area inside the pool enclosure, and any gates and doors that open into it. If the pool is green or covered, we ask you to clean or uncover it so the water is visible.
On arrival. The inspector introduces themselves, confirms what we're doing, and walks the perimeter of the pool area with you. They'll talk you through what they're checking as they go — no jargon, no surprises.
The inspection itself takes 45 to 90 minutes for most residential pools. The inspector goes through:
The fence height, gaps, and isolation.
The gate — self-close, self-latch, latch height, opening direction.
The 900mm non-climbable zone, inside and outside the barrier.
Any doors or windows that open into the pool enclosure.
The clarity of the water (yes, this is on the checklist).
The barrier as a continuous, isolated, child-resistant boundary.
For the full breakdown of what an inspector actually checks, see the cornerstone regulations guide.
The verdict on the spot. Before the inspector leaves, you get a clear pass-or-fix outcome:
Compliant. Your Certificate of Pool Barrier Compliance is issued same-day.
Needs a small fix. We hand you a plain-language fix-list — exactly what's required, and why. Where we can resolve issues on the spot (gate latch, hinges, alignment), we'll quote the $199 + GST gate service and have it sorted before we leave.
Needs more substantial work. For anything bigger — a section of fence, a glass panel, a child-resistant door — we coordinate the right trade on your behalf and re-inspect at no extra charge once the work is done.
You don't chase quotes. You don't manage trades. You don't book a second inspector.
What you walk away with
By the end of a successful inspection:
Your Certificate of Pool Barrier Compliance — issued same-day where compliant.
Form 23 lodged with your local council — usually within 1–2 business days. You get a confirmation copy by email.
A re-certification reminder set for ~3 months before your next four-year mark. No surprise lapses.
Phone support if council ever comes back with a query about your file.
If you're a landlord, a property manager or selling, we can send the certificate copy directly to your agent, conveyancer or PM on request.
What it costs
ServicePriceFaceTime / video pre-inspection$99 + GST (credited toward the full inspection if booked within 30 days)Full inspection + Form 23 lodgement$299 + GST (most popular)On-the-spot gate service$199 + GST
No hidden fees. No "quote on inspection". You see the price before you book, and we tell you exactly what's included.
For anything beyond the gate service — fencing, glass panels, child-resistant doors — we quote on inspection with no obligation, using trades we've worked with for years.
How long the whole process takes
For most jobs:
Booking confirmed within an hour during business hours.
Inspection completed in 45–90 minutes on the day.
Certificate issued same-day where compliant.
Form 23 lodged with council within 1–2 business days.
Council confirmation on file typically within a week.
If you're selling and the deadline is tight, we regularly turn around inspections inside 48 hours for sale-stress jobs. Call us and we'll find a slot.
Where we work
We're based across Melbourne's pool-heavy suburbs — Inner East, Bayside, Inner South, Mornington Peninsula, Outer East and Yarra Valley — and we also travel to regional and rural Victoria regularly. If your area isn't on our standard list, give us a call. We'll always do our best to help, and we welcome regional and bulk bookings.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pool inspection cost in Melbourne? A full inspection with Form 23 lodgement is $299 + GST. A FaceTime pre-inspection is $99 + GST (credited toward the full job if booked within 30 days). The gate service is $199 + GST.
Do you lodge Form 23 with council for me? Yes. The $299 + GST service covers the inspection, repairs we can do on the spot, the Form 23 certificate, and lodgement with your council. You don't deal with council at any point.
How long does the inspection take? 45 to 90 minutes for most residential pools.
Do I need to be home during the inspection? Ideally yes — you don't need to be next to the inspector the whole time, but it helps to be on-site so we can talk you through the outcome and any next steps before we leave. If you can't be there, we can work with a property manager, vendor's agent, or a tenant given the right brief.
Can you help organise repairs if something needs fixing? Yes. Minor gate and latch work we do on the spot. For bigger jobs we coordinate the right trade on your behalf and re-inspect at no extra charge once the work is done.
Same-day inspection — is that a thing? We get the question often. Same-day isn't usually possible, but we can usually offer something within 48 hours for sale-stress and council-notice jobs. Call us.
What suburbs do you cover? Inner East, Bayside & Inner South, Mornington Peninsula, Outer East & Yarra Valley as our core area, plus regional and rural Victoria. Outside Melbourne metro, give us a call — we travel further for established customers and bulk bookings.
My pool failed inspection last time. Will it pass now? Probably — most pools that fail first time only need minor adjustments. If you've fixed what the previous inspector flagged, you're likely there. If you're not sure, start with a $99 + GST FaceTime so you don't waste the full inspection fee.
Ready to book?
Book a $299 + GST full inspection and Form 23 lodgement. VBA-registered inspector at your door, same-day report where compliant, council lodgement handled for you.
Book a $99 + GST FaceTime consultation. 30-minute video walk-through. Credited toward the full inspection if you book within 30 days.
Book a $199 + GST gate service. Most jobs done within 60 minutes on-site.
Or call 0438 383 752 and we'll talk it through. Either way, the inspection, the certificate, the council lodgement, and everything in between is on us. Simple and stress-free.
Related guides
Pool Fence Regulations Victoria: The Complete Guide — the cornerstone, every rule explained.