WA's building regulator is urging homeowners to accommodate local government inspections of private pool safety barriers after a report found property access was a key reason for overdue checks.
- Local governments should inspect private pool barriers at least every four years
- Building and Energy's 2024-25 report shows two-thirds of councils are up to date
- Four metropolitan local governments account for half of overdue pools
WA's building regulator is urging homeowners to accommodate local government inspections of private pool safety barriers after a report found property access was a key reason for overdue checks.
Building and Energy revealed two-thirds of WA councils were up to date with pool barrier inspections at 30 June 2025 and four local governments were responsible for half of all pools overdue for inspection. Building and Energy monitors inspections as part of efforts to help young children stay safe around swimming pools.
Under WA laws, private swimming pools, spas and portable pools with water more than 30cm deep must have a safety barrier that complies with the law and restricts young children's access.
WA local governments are required to carry out compliance inspections of the safety barriers of private pools in their districts. If four years lapse between checks, the pool is considered overdue for inspection.
Building and Energy's annual progress reports were prompted by the Ombudsman WA identifying that more than 8,600 private swimming pools, or around 6 per cent, were overdue for these inspections in mid-2015.
Building and Energy's latest report found 2,170 private swimming pools in WA, or 1.2 per cent, were considered overdue for barrier inspections at 30 June 2025. This is a slight increase compared to 0.9 per cent the previous year. Four metropolitan local governments - Wanneroo, East Fremantle, Rockingham and South Perth - accounted for half of overdue pools.
The report noted 65 per cent of reporting local governments were up to date with pool inspections and only one local authority did not provide data - the best results for both criteria since reporting began eight years ago.
Excluding local governments with fewer than 20 private pools in their jurisdiction, the highest numbers and percentages of overdue inspections at 30 June 2025 were in:
METROPOLITAN |
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Highest overdue percentage |
Highest number of overdue pools |
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| East Fremantle | 38.7% |
Wanneroo | 330 |
| Bassendean | 14.1% |
East Fremantle | 279 |
| South Perth | 7.4% |
Rockingham | 270 |
| Subiaco | 3.5% |
South Perth | 205 |
| Rockingham | 2.3% |
Stirling | 171 |
REGIONAL |
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Highest overdue percentage |
Highest number of overdue pools |
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| Quairading | 70.0% |
Port Hedland | 161 |
| Toodyay | 38.1% |
Karratha | 123 |
| Wagin | 22.9% |
Kalgoorlie-Boulder | 57 |
| Northampton | 22.7% |
Quairading | 42 |
| Bridgetown-Greenbushes | 21.6% |
Northampton | 39 |
Local governments identified difficulties with access to properties and staff resourcing as the main reasons for overdue inspections.
Building and Energy Executive Director Daniel Kearney encouraged councils and homeowners to play their part in reducing the risk of drowning, which tragically continues to be a leading cause of accidental death for young children.
"There is no substitute for active adult supervision of young children around swimming pools, but safety barriers are an important back-up measure - as long as they are used and maintained correctly," Mr Kearney said.
"While our report shows a good effort from most local governments, there is still room for improvement. It is also vital for pool owners to facilitate local government inspections and carry out their own year-round checks to ensure safety barriers are fit for purpose."
Progress report: Local governments' periodic inspections of private swimming pool safety barriers 2024/25 and other resources, including a checklist for homeowners, are available at lgirs.wa.gov.au/rules-for-pools .
