Glass pool fencing has become the preferred choice for homeowners across the Mid North Coast, and for good reason. Unlike metal or timber alternatives, frameless glass fencing provides an unobstructed view of your pool area — meaning you can supervise children and guests from inside the house, from the deck, or from anywhere in the yard without visual barriers.
Beyond safety, the aesthetic advantage is undeniable. A frameless glass pool fence disappears into the landscape, preserving the sightlines to your garden, ocean views, or surrounding bushland. For properties on the Coffs Coast — where outdoor living and coastal views are part of the lifestyle — glass fencing enhances rather than interrupts the environment.
If you’ve searched for glaziers near me looking for pool fencing solutions, you’ll know that not all glass fences are created equal. The quality of the glass, the hardware, and the installation all determine whether your fence meets Australian Standards and stands up to the coastal climate.
Pool fencing in New South Wales is governed by the Swimming Pools Act 1992 and the Swimming Pools Regulation 2018. These laws apply to every swimming pool and spa capable of holding 300mm or more of water — including inflatable pools, above-ground pools, and permanent in-ground pools. If your property has a pool, you have a legal obligation to fence it correctly.
The legislation exists for one reason: to prevent children under five from gaining unsupervised access to swimming pools. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in young children in Australia, and a compliant pool fence is the single most effective barrier.
Since 2013, all swimming pool owners in NSW have been required to register their pool on the NSW Swimming Pool Register. This is a state-wide database managed through your local council — for Coffs Harbour residents, that’s the Coffs Harbour City Council. Registration is not optional. Failure to register can result in fines, and your pool cannot legally be used until it is both registered and compliant.
If you’re selling or leasing a property with a pool, you must provide a valid compliance certificate — which cannot be issued without an up-to-date registration.
Local councils across the Mid North Coast have significantly increased the frequency and rigour of pool fence inspections. Coffs Harbour City Council, along with Bellingen Shire and Nambucca Valley councils, have been actively conducting random and scheduled inspections as part of a broader crackdown on non-compliant pool barriers.
The penalties are not trivial. Non-compliance can attract fines of up to $5,500 for individuals and $11,000 for corporations. More importantly, an inspector can issue a direction notice requiring immediate rectification — and if the fence cannot be brought into compliance, the pool must be drained or made inaccessible.
The Australian Standard for pool fencing is AS 1926.1, which sets out precise requirements for barrier height, gaps, gate mechanisms, and non-climbable zones. Here’s what you need to know:
The barrier must be a minimum of 1,200mm high measured from the finished ground level on the outside of the fence. This applies to all sections of the barrier, including gates. Any variation in ground level — steps, retaining walls, garden beds — must be accounted for so that the effective height is maintained at every point.
No gap in the fence, gate, or between the fence and the ground may exceed 100mm. This includes the gap beneath the bottom rail or panel. On uneven ground, this can be particularly challenging, which is why professional measurement and installation by experienced glaziers is critical.
Every gate in a pool fence must be self-closing and self-latching. The gate must swing outward (away from the pool) and close from any position without manual assistance. The latch must be at least 1,500mm from the ground on the outside, or if lower, must be shielded so that a child cannot reach it through or over the gate.
Gate compliance is the single most common point of failure during inspections. Hinges wear, latches stick, and self-closing mechanisms lose tension over time. Regular maintenance is essential.
A 900mm non-climbable zone (NCZ) must be maintained on the outside of the pool fence. This means no objects — furniture, pot plants, retaining walls, trees, air conditioning units, pool pumps — can be placed within 900mm of the fence that a child could use as a foothold to climb over the barrier.
This is one of the most frequently breached requirements. A garden bed that’s grown too high, a bin left against the fence, or a new piece of outdoor furniture can instantly make a previously compliant fence non-compliant. It’s something to be vigilant about year-round.
All glass used in pool fencing must be toughened (tempered) safety glass complying with AS/NZS 2208. At Harbour Glass, we use a minimum of 12mm toughened glass for all pool fencing installations — this is the industry standard for frameless applications, providing the structural rigidity needed to withstand wind loads, accidental impacts, and the coastal salt air that Coffs Harbour properties are exposed to.
Toughened glass is approximately four to five times stronger than standard annealed glass of the same thickness. If it does break — which is extremely rare — it shatters into small, blunt granules rather than dangerous shards. This is the same safety standard applied to automotive side windows, shower screens, and glass balustrades.
We source all our pool fencing glass from certified Australian suppliers, and every panel carries the permanent AS/NZS 2208 compliance stamp. If your existing pool fence glass doesn’t carry this stamp, it may not be compliant.
“Pool fencing is not decorative — it’s a life-safety barrier. We treat every installation with the rigour it deserves. Every panel is toughened to standard, every spigot is torqued to spec, and every gate is tested before we leave site.”
— Harbour Glass team
Most glass pool fencing companies will measure, supply, and install your fence. Harbour Glass does all of that — but we also carry out pool fence compliance audits and reports. This is a critical differentiator.
A compliance audit involves a thorough, point-by-point inspection of your entire pool barrier against AS 1926.1 and the Swimming Pools Act 1992. We check barrier heights, gap dimensions, gate operation, latch mechanisms, non-climbable zones, and any CPR signage requirements. At the end of the audit, you receive a detailed written report outlining any deficiencies and what’s required to bring the fence into compliance.
Whether you need a new glass pool fence installed, an existing fence audited, or remedial work to pass a council inspection, Harbour Glass handles the entire process. You’re dealing with one qualified team from start to finish — not a fencer who subcontracts the glass, and a glass company that subcontracts the fencing.
If you’re selling a property with a pool in NSW, the conveyancing process requires a valid compliance certificate or a relevant occupation certificate. Without it, the sale can be delayed or fall through. For landlords, leasing a property with a non-compliant pool fence exposes you to personal liability in the event of an incident.
A proactive compliance audit from Harbour Glass identifies issues before council does — giving you time to rectify at your own pace rather than under the pressure of a direction notice.
Glass pool fences installed with stainless steel spigots and hardware near a swimming pool create a potential electrical hazard if not properly earthed. The interaction between water, metal hardware, and nearby electrical systems (pool pumps, lighting, heating) requires careful consideration during installation.
We’ve written a dedicated article on this topic — Pool Fencing & Electrical Safety: What Every Pool Owner Should Know — covering earthing requirements, bonding, and how to ensure your glass pool fence doesn’t become an electrical risk.
Harbour Glass measures, supplies, and installs glass pool fencing across the entire Mid North Coast. Our service area includes:
Whether you’re in a beachside suburb or a rural property inland, if you’re on the Mid North Coast and searching for glaziers near me for pool fencing, we’ll come to you. Our workshop is located at 92-98 Industrial Drive, North Boambee Valley — but the majority of our work happens on-site at your property.
If your pool fence hasn’t been inspected recently, or if you’ve received a council notice, don’t leave it to chance. Harbour Glass offers pool fence compliance audits across the Coffs Coast — we’ll assess your barrier, identify any issues, and provide a clear path to compliance.
For new glass pool fencing installations, we provide free on-site measures and no-obligation quotes. Every installation uses 12mm toughened glass to AS/NZS 2208, marine-grade stainless steel hardware, and self-closing/self-latching gate systems that meet AS 1926.1.
Request a free quote or book a free measure — or call us directly on (02) 6652 9669.
