Home / NSW pool rules / Slopes, retaining walls and windows

Do slopes, retaining walls and windows change pool fence rules?

They can. Height is measured from finished ground, so a slope changes the number. Retaining walls, steps and objects are commonly required to stay clear of the barrier. Windows and doors are no longer an acceptable substitute for a pool fence on the current NSW Government guidance for that older practice.

A retaining wall can act as a step up to the fence or as part of the barrier itself. Those are different problems and they are solved differently.

On a slope, a fence that is 1.2 m at one post can be short at the next if the ground rises outside the pool.

We look at these on site before recommending a panel layout. Photos help us prepare; they do not replace the measure where the ground is uneven.

Common mistakes

• Stepping panels without checking the bottom gap on the low side.
• Building the fence on top of a wall a child can walk up.
• Leaving a low window opening into the pool area.

Official sources

• NSW Government — owning a pool or spa
• NSW Swimming Pool Register
• Swimming Pools Act 1992 (NSW)

Pool fencing requirements can depend on the pool, property, barrier configuration, construction date and applicable legislation/standards. Information on this website is provided as general guidance and should not replace advice from the relevant NSW authority, council, certifier or qualified professional. For an installation project, our team can assess the site and identify potential fencing and access issues before installation.