Swimming Pool Inspections
When did the Council start charging pool owners directly for pool inspection services?
Why does the Council charge people directly for this service [rather than part of rates]?
The Council began charging for inspections in 2017, when inspections began.
Councillors first agreed to increase swimming pool inspection fees in the 2021-2022 Fees and Charges, as set out in the Fees and Charges Statement of Proposal for consultation which stated:
The initial swimming pool inspection fee of $36 has been removed as it was not covering the cost of
the officer’s time. The low fee had been used as an incentive in the past but as the three‐yearly
inspection is a legislative requirement the Council considers that all pool owners should pay the cost
of this service and it should not be subsidised by the ratepayer.
Current fees for pool inspections were agreed by elected members on 29 June 2022 as part of the 2022-2023 Annual Plan.
Access to properties
Section 222 of the Building Act 2004 states that an authorised office is entitled “at all times during normal working hours” to inspect “any residential pool (or immediate pool area).
Does the Council warn residents before the pool inspector comes around? If so, how long beforehand?
Not for initial inspections. Where a follow-up inspection is required, residents will receive a letter letting informing them this will take place.
Pool owners face legal obligations as part of their ownership, including mandatory inspections of their pools. Information about that can be found on the website of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Do residents have to pay for the pool inspection if the pool is not filled up or being used?
Yes, currently the fee is $205 as per our schedule of fees and charges.
Requirements for fencing of pools is set out in the New Zealand Government's Building Regulations 1992 - F9.2:
Residential pools with a maximum depth of water of 400 mm or more that are filled or partly filled with water must have means of restricting access that prevents unsupervised access by a child under 5 years of age.
How long do residents have to fix their non-compliant pool?
There are no regulated timeframes for this, however Council staff will determine the risk for individual properties and provide timeframes to address any issues accordingly. In general, rechecks will take place within 12 weeks of an initial inspection.
How long does it have to be non-compliant before a resident gets a fine or a prosecution?
If a second re-inspection fails, an infringement fee may be applied.
Does the inspector really come around every three years?
Resourcing in the past has meant that we have not met the three-yearly inspection cycle required under the Building Act. Currently resourcing allows inspections to proceed.
