Pool fence inspection checklist Gold Coast.
Walk your pool fence with this checklist before calling an inspector. Fix the easy items yourself — gate spring, pot plants, CPR sign — and you dramatically improve your odds of passing Form 23 on the first visit and avoiding a Form 26 Nonconformity Notice.
Barrier height — 1200mm minimum.
Take a tape measure and check the fence height at multiple points around the full pool perimeter. Under QDC MP 3.4 the barrier must be at least 1200mm above the non-pool side ground level at every point, not just the average.
Watch out for:
- Ground that slopes downward on the non-pool side — height is measured from the lowest point within 900mm of the fence
- Garden beds or fill that has subsided since original install, exposing fence posts and reducing effective height
- Gates that are 1200mm in the middle but shorter at the post ends due to hinge drop or ground movement
- Frameless glass panels where the bottom rail sits above ground — measure from ground to top of glass, not to the top of the spigot cap
If any section reads under 1200mm, that section must be remediated before a Form 23 inspector visits. Options: lift the fence, replace the post or panel, or add a compliant topper.
Gaps — 100mm under the fence, 100mm between members.
The 100mm gap rule applies in three directions on a QLD pool fence:
- Under the fence: Maximum 100mm between the lowest part of the fence and the ground or footing. A fist test is a rough guide — if a closed fist passes through, measure it.
- Between vertical members: Maximum 100mm between adjacent pickets, glass panels or vertical bars. This includes any gap at the latch post on a gate.
- Between horizontal members: Maximum 10mm if rails are spaced less than 900mm apart. If you have horizontal rails (some older tubular fences), check whether they could act as a ladder rung — if two rails are less than 900mm apart, there must be no gap exceeding 10mm between them.
Ground movement and post settlement are the usual culprits on 10–15-year-old Gold Coast fences. Check the full perimeter, not just the obvious spans.
The 900mm non-climbable zone (NCZ).
This is the most common reason Gold Coast pool fences fail on first inspection. The NCZ is an arc of 900mm measured horizontally from the top of the barrier on both sides of the fence. Nothing within that zone may be used as a foothold or step.
Checklist — remove or relocate anything within 900mm:
- Pot plants (even low ones — the pot itself is the foothold)
- Garden ornaments, sculptures, statues
- Garden furniture: chairs, benches, sun loungers
- BBQ, smoker, outdoor kitchen elements
- Wheelie bins or recycling bins
- Air-conditioner condenser units (very common in Gold Coast side-yards)
- Pool pump housing or filter equipment on the non-pool side
- Retaining walls or garden edging higher than 100mm
- Lower decorative fencing or garden trellises
- Stored items: garden equipment, tools, sporting goods
The NCZ applies to the pool side too. A pool pump platform or step that lets a child climb over the fence from inside the pool zone will also fail. See also our page on QDC MP 3.4 compliance rules for the full foothold detail.
Gate operation — self-close, self-latch, outward.
Gate failure accounts for roughly 16% of first-inspection failures across QLD. The gate rules under QDC MP 3.4 are strict and easy to check yourself:
Self-closing test:
Open the gate to 150mm (about the width of your hand). Let go. It must swing fully closed and latch under its own spring tension without being pushed. Try it at 30mm open, 90mm open and fully open. Fail at any position = non-compliant. Springs degrade — replace the spring if the gate hesitates or rests open. Replacement cost: $80–$180 installed.
Self-latching test:
When the gate closes, the latch must engage without you touching it. If you need to push or lift the gate to seat the latch, that is a fail. A magnetic latch (MagnaLatch or equivalent) is more reliable than a mechanical spring latch. Latch height: minimum 1500mm AFFL if accessible from the pool side, minimum 1700mm AFFL if accessible from outside the pool zone.
Direction of swing:
The gate must open outward (away from the pool zone). If your gate swings inward toward the pool, it is non-compliant regardless of how good the latch is. Relocating hinges to reverse swing: $220–$420.
We supply and install compliant pool gate hardware including MagnaLatch, D&D Safetech and Lockwood DG magnetic latches. These are what inspectors like to see.
Boundary fences, doors & windows.
Boundary and dividing fences used as pool barriers.
If your pool zone uses a dividing fence or rear boundary fence as part of its perimeter, that fence section is inspected to the same standard as the dedicated pool fence. Check height, gaps and NCZ along the full shared boundary length. A neighbour’s garden bed on the other side of a shared fence can put you in breach — you may need to negotiate with the neighbour or relocate that fence inward.
Doors and windows opening into the pool zone.
Any door or window in the dwelling that opens directly into the pool zone (i.e. the pool is enclosed within the house footprint, common in Sanctuary Cove villas and some Sovereign Islands waterfront homes) must be:
- Self-closing and self-latching (doors)
- Lockable OR restricted to a maximum 100mm opening OR fitted with security mesh (not flyscreen) (windows)
- Pool alarm may be required as an additional safeguard if the inspector determines continuous direct access
If doors or windows give direct pool access and are non-compliant, this must be fixed before a Form 23 certificate can be issued.
CPR sign — current version, visible, undamaged.
The CPR signage requirement catches about 10% of Gold Coast pool fence inspections. The sign must be:
- The current 2018 DG-006 version — NOT the 2010 or 1991 versions. If your sign looks old or has a different layout to the one in the QFES pool safety resources, replace it.
- Minimum A4 size
- UV-stable plastic or aluminium — not paper or printed card
- Visible from anywhere within the pool zone
- Undamaged and legible — if the text is faded or the sign is bent, replace it ($80–$140)
We include a compliant CPR sign in every fence and gate installation. For compliance-only inspections, we supply the sign at cost. Get a Pool Safety Certificate once you’ve addressed all the above items.
Most common Gold Coast first-inspection failures.
Based on Form 26 Nonconformity notices issued across the Gold Coast, these are the issues that appear most often. Fix these before booking and you eliminate the majority of first-visit failures:
- Gate latch failure (16%). Spring degraded, latch misaligned or not engaging. Fix: replace magnetic latch or adjust spring. $80–$340.
- Climbable objects within 900mm (12%). A/C condenser, garden furniture, retaining wall. Fix: relocate object. Usually free.
- CPR sign wrong version or missing (10%). Replace with 2018 DG-006. $80–$140.
- Gaps between fence panels exceeding 100mm (8%). Post has moved or fence section has spread. Fix: refit post, adjust or replace panel. $200–$1,400.
- Under-fence gap exceeding 100mm (6%). Ground has subsided, or fill was removed after original install. Fix: concrete or paver infill, or adjust fence footing. $200–$600.
Need help doing a walk-through before you book an inspector? Our pre-inspection compliance check ($180) covers every item on this list. We identify issues and supply a fix quote the same day. Read more on our Form 23 certificate page or check our full compliance rules guide.
Frequently asked questions.
What is the minimum pool fence height in QLD?
Under QDC MP 3.4 your pool barrier must be at least 1200mm above the non-pool ground level at every point. This is measured on the outside of the fence. If your ground slopes, the height is measured at the lowest adjacent ground point within 900mm. A fence that meets 1200mm on flat ground can fail on a site with a 150mm drop inside the climbable zone.
What gaps are allowed in a pool fence in Queensland?
Maximum 100mm between vertical members (pickets or glass panels), maximum 100mm between the bottom of the fence and the ground, and maximum 10mm between any horizontal members (if horizontal rails are closer than 900mm apart they are treated as footholds and fail). Most modern aluminium tube fences use vertical-only pickets, so the 10mm horizontal rule doesn’t arise.
What is the 900mm non-climbable zone?
An arc extending 900mm horizontally from the top of the barrier on both the pool side and the outside of the fence. Within this zone there must be nothing a child could stand on — pot plants, garden benches, retaining walls above 100mm, BBQs, bins, pool pumps, air-con condensers, and any other object. This is the most common failure reason on Gold Coast pre-sale inspections.
How must a pool gate operate to be compliant?
The gate must open outward (away from the pool zone), self-close from any open position including just 150mm ajar, and self-latch without manual assistance on closing. The latch must sit at least 1500mm above finished floor level (AFFL) if it can be reached from the pool side, or 1700mm AFFL if accessible from outside. A spring that’s weak enough to hold the gate open in a light breeze will fail inspection on the day.
Can my boundary fence serve as part of the pool barrier?
Yes, under QDC MP 3.4 a dividing fence or boundary fence can form part of the pool barrier, provided it meets the same 1200mm height, 100mm gap, and non-climbable zone requirements as a standalone pool fence. The shared fence must also be inspected as part of the Form 23 assessment. Many Gold Coast properties use the rear boundary fence as one wall of the pool zone — the inspector will check the full perimeter.
Pre-inspection checklist walk-through from $180.
We identify every issue before the formal inspector visits. Fix fast. Pass first time.