What is a large spa?
A large spa is one that has a water surface of more than 5 square meters.
If the spa you are installing has a water surface of 5 square meters or less, see
Put in a small spa or heated pool.
Resource consent for a swimming pool or large spa
Depending on your pool's distance from the boundary and other buildings, you may need a resource consent.
To find out the rules for your area:
Building consent for a swimming pool or large spa
Depending on the type of your residential pool, you may need a building consent for your pool, pool barrier, or both.
You will need a building consent for your pool barrier.
On ground and in ground swimming pools and large spas
You will not need a building consent for your pool or spa if it sits directly on the ground, or in the ground, and it's capacity is less than or equal to 35,000 litres.
Above ground swimming pools and large spas
You will not need a building consent for your pool or large spa if it is:
- less than or equal to 250mm above the ground and capacity is less than or equal to 16,000 litres
- less than or equal to 500mm above the ground and capacity is less than or equal to 8000 litres
- less than or equal to 1.0m above the ground and capacity is less than or equal to 2000 litres
- less than or equal to 4m above the ground and capacity is less than or equal to 500 litres.
When you need a barrier for your swimming pool or large spa
All pools of depth of 400mm or more need some form of pool barrier.
If your pool has a non-climbable side at least 1.2m high above the ground; and there are no permanent climbable objects located within 1.2m of the pool side (includes trees and plants), the barrier is only needed around the pool access. This could take the form of a fence around the stairs or ladder.
In all other situations, the barrier must be a fence around the pool. This fencing will need building consent. If a building or boundary fence forms part of this barrier, see
Other structures used as part of the pool barrier.
Infinity edge pools are considered on a case by case basis. Fall height and volume will determine building consent requirements. Contact us to discuss the specific requirements.