Masterton
District
Council
Fence
o
o
o
o
o
1.2m (4ft) high from outside ground level 900mm (3ft) minimum between horizontal rails
Gaps under fence less than 1OOmm (4 inches)
Mesh size no more than 13mm (0.5 inches) - 1.2m high (4ft)
Mesh size no more than 50mm (2 inches) - 1.8m
high (6ft)
Picket fence gaps no wider than 1OOmm (4 inches)
Gates
o
o
o
o
o
Latch on outside of gate to be located a minimum of 1.5mm (5ft) from ground
Latch on pool side to be located a minimum of 1.2m (4ft) from ground
To open away from pool
Must be self-closing – close and latch automatically
No hold-open devices
NEED MORE INFORMATION
OR HELP?
If you want...
•
More information about the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act
•
Advice on how you can comply with the Act
Then contact the Masterton District Council Help Desk
on 06 370 6300 or call into our offices at 64 Chapel
Street, or write to Masterton District Council, PO Box
444 , Masterton.
Web: www.mstn.govt.nz
Email: [email protected]
Para type pools
o
o
o
o
o
Sides to be 1.2m (4ft) minimum from ground level
Smooth vertical sides
No climb points
Ladder to be removable
No fence or consent required if the above
conditions apply
FENCING
Caution: if you suspect that the pool does not
comply, please drain your pool immediately and
contact Masterton District Council for an
inspection on 06 370 6300.
www.mstn.govt.nz
your spa
& swimming
pool
Why do I have to fence my
swimming pool and spa?
Where must the fence be
placed?
What happens if I fail to meet
the requirements?
All swimming and spa pools must be fenced under the
Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987. These regulations are
very important as they are designed to protect the safety of
young children. By making sure that your pool complies you
can have peace of mind that you have met your obligations
under the Act and that you have safety covered.
The fence must only surround the immediate pool area. The
area can only include items used with the pool such as the
diving board and swimming pool furniture. It should not
include the clothesline, vegetable garden, children’s play
area, etc. Beware of including a boundary fence as part of
a pool fence. Your neighbours may put trellis or a stack of
wood, for example, on the other side. This could enable a
child to climb over the fence. In such cases the fence would
not comply with the Act.
Failure to comply may result in expensive legal
proceedings as well as compromising child
safety. Fencing your pool can be easy and not as
much fuss as you may have thought, so please
contact us for advice.
Fencing your pool can be easy.
We can assist and advise you of what is required and your
responsibilities under the law.
What is a swimming pool?
Under the Act any excavation, structure or product that is used
and is capable of being used for swimming, wading, paddling
or bathing, including spa pools and ornamental pools.
Does my pool require fencing?
If your pool can have a water depth greater than 400mm
(16 inches) then it is required to be fenced in accordance
with the Act. Pools located entirely within a house are
exempt. If in doubt please contact us.
Who is responsible?
Pool owners and Masterton District
Council all have responsibilities
under the Act.
When is a house a pool fence?
The walls of a house (or another building on the property) can
form part of a pool fence providing it meets certain conditions.
See the checklist overleaf. If in doubt, please call us.
Do I need a consent to build a
pool fence?
Yes. Building advisory staff at Masterton District Council can
provide help and advise you on this.
Selling with an unfenced pool
Home buyers can obtain a report, called a Land Information
Memorandum (LIM), on the property they are buying. If there
is a record of a non­-complying pool on the property, this
would be noted in the report. This means you could be faced
with hasty and expensive action to remedy the situation to
enable the sale to proceed.
Does my existing
pool need to be
fenced?
Yes, all pools must comply
with the Act - no matter
when they were installed.
We want to help
We want to make the Masterton area a safer
environment for everyone, including small
children. Please contact us if you are unsure
what you need to
If your pool does not comply, the Act requires
the pool to be emptied until it does comply.
POOL FENCING CHECKLIST
This is a checklist for your convenience, but does not
cover every situation. For further advice for your
specific situation, please contact Masterton District
Council’s Help Desk on 06 370 6300.
Immediate Pool Area
o Should only contain items used for pool activities, ie patio furniture, barbecue, pool equipment, etc.
Hinged doors giving access to pool area
o Must be self-closing – close and latch automatically
o Latch/handle minimum of 1.5m (5ft) from
bottom of door
o No hold-open devices
o To open away from pool
Sliding doors/bifolds giving access to pool area
o Latch, tower bolt, security lock at a minimum of 1.5m (5ft) from bottom of door
o Must be self-closing – close and latch automatically
o No hold-open devices
Windows below 1.2m giving access to pool area
o Limiter to prevent windows opening more
than 100mm (4 inches)