The measurable basics
A compliant barrier comes down to a handful of things you can actually check:
- Height: at least 1200 mm high, measured on the outside.
- Non-climbable zone: keep a clear band (commonly a 900 mm zone) free of anything a child could use as a foothold, no pots, chairs, BBQ, planter or retaining-wall step within reach of the top.
- Gaps: nothing a small child could get through, the standard models a 100 mm sphere at the base and between verticals.
- The gate: self-closing and self-latching from any position, swinging away from the pool, with the latch up high out of reach (council checklists commonly cite a release at 1500 mm).
Registration and the certificate are separate
Every pool in NSW must be registered on the NSW Swimming Pool Register, and a Certificate of Compliance is issued by your council or an accredited private certifier after they inspect the barrier. Registering is not the same as being compliant, and building the fence is not the same as certifying it.
A note on the standard
Homeowners see slightly different numbers online because different editions of AS 1926 are referenced in different places. The safe move is to build to the standard and have a certifier confirm it against the current requirements for your address.
This is general information, not professional advice; confirm the detail with your council or an accredited certifier, and book a free measure if you want the barrier looked at.