Put in a swimming pool or large spa

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:

• check the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan
• check the district and regional plans
• contact us.

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.

Pools that use boundary fencing or buildings to form a part of the pool barrier

See Other structures used as part of the pool barrier.

Fixed fees for building consents for portable pool barriers

If you are installing a swimming pool or large spa that meets certain conditions, our fixed fee process applies.

This will make it cheaper for you.

To qualify, the pool must be:

• portable
• 35,000 litres or less
• fenced all the way around, not using a building wall, boundary fence, or alternative solution
• free of climbing points within 1.2 meters of the pool fence
• on a site with no geotechnical or contamination issues
• not over or within 2 meters of any public drains
• on the ground (not an in-ground or infinity edge pool).

The fixed fee will be charged when you apply for your building consent.

Pools in or on decks

If you are putting in a pool:

• on top of an existing deck, you are responsible for ensuring the deck is structurally sound and can carry the weight of the pool
• into an existing deck that is more than 1.5 meters off the ground, you will need a building consent for the alteration to the deck.

If you are installing a new deck to support your pool, but do not need a consent for the deck, you still need to make sure the deck can carry the weight of the pool.

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.

Check if you need a consent for a swimming pool or large spa

See Check if you need a consent to put in a residential pool or spa.