DIY Fibreglass Pools in NSW: Navigating Council Approvals Without the Headaches

Thinking about installing your own fibreglass pool in New South Wales? Good on you — done right, DIY pools can save you serious money without cutting quality and still look like a pro job. But there’s one step you can’t skip: council approval.

Here at Complete Fibreglass Pool Kits we know — “council” and “fun” rarely appear in the same sentence. But it’s not as scary as it sounds. If you’ve got the right pool kit, a site that ticks the right boxes, and a few facts on your side, getting approval is achievable regardless of your background or experience. You just need to know the steps — and follow them before the shovel hits the dirt.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the NSW rules, how to stay on council’s good side, and how to get your DIY fibreglass pool approved without the fuss.

Why Do You Need Council Approval for DIY Fibreglass Pools in NSW?

If your fibreglass pool (or any pool) will hold more than 300mm of water, you need council or private certifier approval. No exceptions, no backdoors.

In NSW, there are two ways to get the green light:

1. Complying Development Certificate (CDC) — the faster, simpler option (if your site qualifies).

To qualify for a CDC, your pool must:

• Be at least 1 metre from all boundaries and structures
• Sit behind the front building line
• Do not encroach on easements
• Be on land that’s not bushfire-prone, flood-affected, or heritage-listed
• Include compliant fencing from day one
• Maintain a minimum amount of landscaped area

Other criteria may need to be met, as it varies for each property. For more information, please speak with your council or click here and review the NSW Planning Portal.

You can manage either the DA or the CDC application yourself and submit it directly to the council. For an additional cost, you can use a private certifier (also called a building certifier) to assess your application and submit it to the council as compliant on your behalf. Private Certifiers can explain the entire process and answer questions regarding:

• The minimum distance your pool is required to be from your house, other onsite structures, boundary fences, retaining walls and mains infrastructure such as sewer, power and water, fencing, and sewage.
• Electrical and plumbing requirements.

Google “Private Certifier” or “Building Certifier” to find a consultant near you. Alternatively, we can often provide contact details, so don't hesitate to ask us.

Skip the paperwork and you’re not just risking a fine — you could be told to take the pool out, or be left with a backyard project no tradie will touch.

The rules aren’t there to be annoying — they’re there to make sure your DIY fibreglass pool is legal, safe, and doesn’t land you in trouble down the track. Once you know what’s required, it’s a whole lot easier to stay ahead of the game.

Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Start Digging

Lock in approval before you touch the shovel

Whether it’s a CDC or a DA, you’ll need approval in hand before any excavation starts. No “quick weekend dig” to get ahead. That’s the fastest way to cop a stop-work notice. It’s one of the most common shortcuts that turns into a longcut.

Check The Fine Print On Your Deposit

On the off chance your council rejects your application, you’ll want to know where you stand. Make sure your DIY fibreglass pool company offers a fully refundable deposit if this occurs.

Know What Lies Beneath

Sewer mains, stormwater pipes, easements — all of these can get in the way of your pool location. Before you finalise anything, run a check through Dial Before You Dig. It’s free, fast, and mandatory for safe excavation.

Plan Your Fencing From The Start

In NSW, you can’t fill your pool with water until your fencing is up and passes inspection by your certifier or council. That doesn’t mean it has to be permanent — compliant temporary fencing is fine while installing your pool, but it must meet AS 1926.1 safety standards. Your barrier must:

●    Be at least 1.2 metres high
●    Have no gaps larger than 100mm
●    Maintain a 900mm non-climbable zone
●    Include a self-closing, self-latching gate that opens away from the pool

Get Your Drainage Sorted

NSW councils will check that your pool won’t cause runoff into your neighbour’s yard or mess with public drainage systems. If you’re on a slope, near a retaining wall, or dealing with clay, your site plan needs to show how you’re managing drainage. Otherwise, your application can stall.

What’s Included In Your DIY Pool Kit

If you’re buying from us, your fibreglass pool kit comes with:
●    Engineer-certified structural drawings
●    Filtration and circulation compliance certificates
●    A council-ready checklist showing what paperwork you need
●    Support if your council requests site-specific engineering (quoted separately if required)

BASIX Requirements

If your DIY fibreglass pool (or any pool) holds 40,000L or more, you’ll need a BASIX Certificate — it’s a legal requirement for larger pools in NSW that ensures water and energy efficiency are factored in from the start.

You can obtain a BASIX certificate through the NSW Planning Portal after completing the BASIX assessment. This is done by logging in to the BASIX Tool and navigating to the "Projects portfolio" page. The certificate is generated once the BASIX targets are met, all mandatory fields are completed, and the certificate fee is paid. You can then download the certificate on the documents tab. Alternatively, you can hire a professional service to handle the process for you. 

How to Get Council Approval in NSW: Step-by-Step Guide for DIY Pool Builders

Step 1: Get a Site Plan That’s Council-Ready

Before anything gets submitted, you’ll need a site plan (a site plan is drawn by a draftsman and provides a bird’s eye view of the proposed pool in the context of your property) that clearly shows:

●    Property boundaries
●    Existing buildings, sheds, fences and patios
●    Sewer lines, easements, and any underground services
●    The exact location of your proposed fibreglass pool
●    Permanent pool fence compliance (from your fence supplier or draftsman)

If you’ve ordered your pool from us, you’ll already have engineer-certified drawings with accurate pool dimensions needed to draw an accurate site plan.

Step 2: Check If Your Pool Qualifies for a Complying Development Certificate (CDC)

A CDC is your best-case scenario. If your pool meets the CDC criteria, a private certifier can approve your project instead of the council - this can cut approval time from months to weeks. If your pool doesn’t meet CDC requirements, you or your certifier will need to lodge a Development Application (DA) with your local council. 

Step 3: Lodge Your Application

Here’s the most common documents you will need (remember every site is different so you may need additional reports or documents from the list below:  

Step 4: Council Review and Approval

●    CDC approval (via certifier) usually takes 10 to 14 days

●    DA approval (via council) can take 4 to 10 weeks or more, depending on complexity

If your application gets knocked back, it’s usually because of something fixable — like fencing setbacks, incorrect positioning, or missing documents. You’ll just need to tweak the plan and resubmit.

Step 5: Book the Required Inspections Before You Fill the Pool

In NSW, every fibreglass pool project must go through a series of inspections to confirm that the build is compliant, both during and after construction. Whether you’re using a CDC or a DA, your certifier (or council, if applicable) will outline the required stages in their approval documentation.

At a minimum, inspections usually include:
●    One after your temporary or permanent fencing is installed, before the pool is filled with water. Temporary fencing is easy to organise and affordable. Just search “temporary fence hire NSW” and choose a supplier who understands pool compliance.

●    One after the pool shell is installed, filtration is connected, and final fencing is completed

If you’re using a private certifier, they’ll detail the inspection stages and fees in their scope of works — including any extra checks they may require, like after excavation or during plumbing rough-in. Knowing this up front helps you plan your build timeline properly.

Planning ahead avoids costly hold-ups, especially if you’re booking in tradies like electricians or plumbers who need your certifier’s green light before finalising their compliance paperwork.

Once it’s inspected and approved by your certifier or council, you’re legally allowed to fill the pool - and register it with NSW Fair Trading.

Temporary fencing is easy to organise and affordable. Just search “temporary fence hire NSW” and choose a supplier who understands pool compliance.

Common Mistakes DIY Pool Owners Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Installing a fibreglass pool in NSW doesn’t have to be hard — but a few common missteps can throw your project off track fast. Here’s what to watch for if you want to avoid stress, delays, and surprise costs.

Starting Before You’re Approved

Trying to squeeze in excavation before your paperwork’s sorted might feel efficient — until it rains, your hole collapses, or council turns up unannounced. Your certifier won’t approve what they didn’t sign off on first. The fix? Don’t dig until your CDC or DA is approved. Ideally, excavation should happen within a week of your pool shell arriving — not a month in advance.

Overlooking What’s Underground

It’s tempting to plan your pool layout around the best sun — but if you hit a sewer main or stormwater pipe, your pool might be stopped before it starts. Council won’t approve builds over or too close to underground services. Always check for easements and services early with Dial Before You Dig — and use that info when designing your site plan.

Using Outdated or Generic Engineering Docs

If your engineering drawings don’t meet the latest compliance standards, your application will get delayed — or rejected. For NSW, you need documents that meet AS1838:2021 for fibreglass pool construction. Our kits include certified drawings that tick every box.

Not Understanding Temporary Fencing Rules

Yes, you can use temporary fencing. No, it’s not optional — or informal. It must meet the same safety standard as permanent fencing (AS 1926.1), and it must be inspected and passed before your pool can be filled. Missing this step could land you with fines or a stop-work notice.

Rushing the Trades Without Inspection Timing

If your electrician or plumber turns up before you’ve passed key inspections, they may not be able to complete — or certify — their work. Always coordinate your trades around your certifier’s inspection schedule. A few days of planning can save weeks of rework.

Council Approval Isn’t a Barrier — It’s the Start of a Smarter Build

From Wagga Wagga to Albury, Bega to Bellina, Sydney and everywhere in between, NSW was made for backyard pools. Warm summers, balmy nights, outdoor living, and a few well-placed deck chairs — it’s all part of the lifestyle. But here’s the thing: no matter how well you plan your pool, none of it matters if it doesn’t meet code.

Council approval isn’t red tape for the sake of it. It’s what keeps your project legal, safe, and insurable. And with the right pool kit, the right drawings, and a team that actually understands the process, it doesn’t need to be hard.

We’ve helped point hundreds of NSW homeowners in the right direction for council approval, and the feedback’s always the same: “That was way easier than I expected.” Now that you know the ins and outs of NSW pool approvals, you’re ready to make your DIY Fibreglass Pool installation stress-free.

If you’ve got questions about your site, approval options, or how the DIY pool process works in New South Wales, just ask. No jargon, no hard sell. Just the facts, from a team that does this every day.

Grab a quote for your new pool today!