Thinking about getting a pool

There’s a few things you’ll need to consider when you’re thinking about putting a pool or spa onto your property, and when you own one.

Consents | Filling your pool | Three-yearly inspections

Building and resource consents

In many cases, you won’t need a building consent to build the pool itself; but you will need building consent for the barriers you’re required to put in to prevent access to the pool.

Installing a pool barrier is considered building work under the Building Act 2004.

Depending on the type of pool, the building consent may also cover the construction of the pool itself or other building work, to make sure it complies with the building code.

You may need a resource consent for earthworks (as well as other standards in the District Plan), depending on where on your property you’re wanting to put your pool. Check the amount you’ll need to do against the Earthworks chapter of the District Plan. Remember you can contact us any time to discuss what you’re planning to do.

Inspections as part of your consent

Your building consent will list the stages when Council staff must inspect the barrier or pool work.

As the owner or building consent applicant, you’re responsible for:

ensuring that temporary safety barriers are installed where there is a danger of falling or drowning
requesting and booking required pool inspections
letting us know when the work is complete
applying for a code compliance certificate (CCC) for the completed work.

Filling your pool

It’s important you do not fill your pool until our team has inspected your pool barrier and we’ve confirmed the barrier complies with your consent.

You’ll also need to make sure you have:

fitted a backflow prevention device to your pool water supply, to prevent pool water flowing back into the mains water supply
if your wastewater is:
- on the Council sewage system – you’ll need to fit a gully trap for emptying your pool into our wastewater
- an alternative sewage disposal system (eg, a septic tank) – you’ll need to talk to us about your situation.

See Filling and emptying your pool for more information.

Three-yearly inspections

Every three years Council will notify you when your three-yearly inspection is due. This may be carried out by Council or you can engage an independently qualified pool inspectors (IQPIs) to arrange for your residential swimming pool barriers to be inspected.

Small, heated pools with safety covers are exempt from this.

Council is responsible under section 162D of the Building Act for making sure pools are inspected as required and keeping the records.