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Put in a small spa or heated pool

If you are installing a small spa, hot tub or heated pool, you might need a building consent, a resource consent, or both.

Small spa or heated pool

A small spa or heated pool is one with a water surface area 5 square meters or less.

If the spa or heated pool you are installing has a water surface of more than 5 square meters, see Put in a residential swimming pool or large spa.

You may need a resource consent to put in a small spa or heated pool

Depending on where you are, your pool's distance from the boundary and other buildings, you may need a resource consent.

To find out the rules for your area:

You may need a building consent to put in a small spa or heated pool

If you are putting in a small heated pool like a spa or hot tub, with a water surface area 5m2 or less, then a building consent may be required for the pool barrier.

Building consent exemption for residential small heated pools with a safety cover or lockable lid

If you install a safety cover or lockable lid, then the pool barrier may be exempt from a building consent.

However, the following requirements must still be met:

  • the top surface of the pool wall must not be less than 760mm above the ground level or adjacent floor.
  • the outside pool wall must be non-climbable
  • safety covers must:
    • comply with Building Code clause F9.3.5

    • restrict the entry of young children (i.e. under five years of age) when closed

    • be capable of withstanding a reasonable load to ensure the cover won't collapse under the weight of a young child
    • readily return to the closed position
    • have a sign showing its child safety features.

Where a small heated pool has a safety cover, it does not need to be inspected every three years.

Small heated pool on top of or inserted in your deck

If you are putting in a small heated pool:

If you are putting in a new deck and the fall height is greater than 1.5m, you will need a building consent for the deck. If the ground level is sloping, you need to take this into consideration.

Information about compliant barriers and covers

See the information about F9 Restricting access to residential pools on the Building Performance website.

Advice before you start

Pool and spa projects can have specific resource and building consent requirements, depending on their size and location.

We offer 15 minutes of free advice before you submit a consent application

For more detailed help on the approvals you will need, contact us to organise a pre-application guidance meeting.

 Related topics

 

 

Apply for a consent to put in a residential or small heated poolhttps://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/building-and-consents/building-renovation-projects/install-residential-small-heated-pool/Pages/apply-building-consent-residential-small-heated-pool.aspxApply for a consent to put in a residential or small heated poolFind out what you need to apply for a consent to put in a pool or spa and in what ways you can apply. aspxSwimming and spa pools
Inspections you need when installing a new poolhttps://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/building-and-consents/building-renovation-projects/install-residential-small-heated-pool/Pages/check-compliance-of-new-pool-pool-barrier.aspxInspections you need when installing a new poolInformation about how to book pool and pool barrier inspection for a new pool, how many inspections you may need, and when you can start to use your new pool.aspxSwimming and spa pools Inspections
Other structures used as part of the pool barrierhttps://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/building-and-consents/building-renovation-projects/install-residential-small-heated-pool/Pages/other-structures-used-part-of-pool-barrier.aspxOther structures used as part of the pool barrierIf you plan to use a building or a boundary fence as part of your pool barrier, you need to show us your plans, drawings and photos so we can check it complies with building code and fencing requirements.aspxPool fencing
Pay a pool site visit (pool inspection) invoicehttps://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/building-and-consents/building-renovation-projects/install-residential-small-heated-pool/Pages/pay-pool-site-visit-invoice.aspxPay a pool site visit (pool inspection) invoiceFind out how to pay a pool site visit invoice.aspxBuilding and consents
Pool legislationhttps://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/building-and-consents/building-renovation-projects/install-residential-small-heated-pool/Pages/pool-legislation.aspxPool legislationRead about the changes regarding residential and small heated pools, that the Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016 brought about.aspxSwimming and spa pools
Pool area safety checklisthttps://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/building-and-consents/building-renovation-projects/install-residential-small-heated-pool/Pages/restrict-access-pool-area.aspxPool area safety checklistFind out how to make your pool safe by making sure that the barrier height, ground clearance, pool gates and area, comply with the building code.aspxPool fencing