Do I Need a Pool CPR Sign? Rules in NSW, Qld, SA, Vic, WA

Name: comparepoolquotes
Price range: $$$

Do I need a CPR sign for my pool? In NSW, Queensland and South Australia, yes: the law requires a resuscitation sign near the pool, at least 300 × 300 mm in Queensland and SA, and NSW fines a missing sign $110. WA says CPR signs are not mandatory; we found no Victorian rule. Signs cost about $30–$80.

The short answer

NSW: required for every pool, portable pools included. The sign must carry three set warnings, a CPR flow chart, a statement that formal instruction is essential and the publisher’s name and date; Fair Trading says it must be readable from 3 m. Penalty notice: $110.
Queensland and South Australia: required, at least 300 × 300 mm, durable and weatherproof, on the barrier or near the pool. Queensland’s must show CPR starting with 30 compressions then 2 breaths.
Western Australia: not mandatory. The state’s December 2025 pool rules guide says CPR signs are not mandatory but strongly encourages one within 3 m of the pool.
Victoria: no rule found. The Building Regulations 2018 as amended to 1 September 2026 do not mention a resuscitation or CPR sign, and the Building Code has no Victorian pool variation.
Cost: about $30 to $80. One online sign retailer lists a 300 × 400 mm corflute sign at $29.80 and aluminium panels at $64.10–$79.20; another lists a 450 × 600 mm panel at $55.90 (read 28 October 2026).

Pool CPR sign rules by state: whether one is required, the law, what it must show, size and placement, and the penalty (legislation, the Building Code state variations and state regulator pages, read 28 October 2026)
State	Sign required?	Where the rule is	What it must show	Size and placement	Penalty
NSW	Yes, every pool including portable pools	Swimming Pools Act 1992 s 17; Regulation 2018 cl 10	The three warnings (supervise young children; keep gates closed; keep objects clear of the fence), a CPR flow chart to the Australian Resuscitation Council guideline, a statement that formal instruction in resuscitation is essential, and the publisher’s name and date. Fair Trading: readable from 3 m	No minimum size in the Regulation	Penalty notice $110; court maximum 5 penalty units ($550)
Queensland	Yes	Pool safety standard (qld.gov.au; QBCC)	How to perform CPR per ANZCOR Guideline 8, starting with 30 compressions then 2 breaths, and an emergency statement such as call Triple Zero (000)	At least 300 × 300 mm, durable and weatherproof, on the barrier or near the pool	Part of the pool safety standard a pool safety certificate is issued against
South Australia	Yes, under the SA variation to the Building Code	NCC 2022 Vol 2 SA H7D2(4)–(5)	First aid procedures including CPR, assisting first aid and CPR on young children	At least 300 × 300 mm, durable and weatherproof, on the barrier or near the pool	Not read for this page
Victoria	No requirement found	Building Regulations 2018 (amendments to 1 September 2026): no mention of resuscitation or CPR; no Victorian H7 variation in the NCC	None prescribed	None prescribed	None found
Western Australia	No, “not mandatory”, but strongly encouraged	Building and Energy, Rules for Pools and Spas, December 2025; Building Regulations 2012 do not mention one	Guide: within 3 m of the pool, visible from the shallow end, near the gate, not climbable	None prescribed	None

Do I need a CPR sign for my pool? The answer by state

It depends on the state, and the sign sellers overstate it. Read at the law and the regulators on 28 October 2026:

NSW requires one. Section 17 of the Swimming Pools Act 1992 says the occupier must keep, in a prominent position in the immediate vicinity of the pool, a sign bearing the notice required by the regulations. NSW Fair Trading says this includes portable pools.
Queensland requires one. The state government says that if you have a pool you must display a CPR sign prominently, and QBCC lists it in the pool safety standard.
South Australia requires one through its variation to the Building Code: a swimming pool must have prominent and visible signage that helps people provide first aid and CPR on young children.
Western Australia does not. Its Rules for Pools and Spas guide, December 2025, says “CPR signs are not mandatory for swimming and spa pools”, and the Building Regulations 2012 do not mention one.
Victoria: we found no requirement. The Building Regulations 2018, version incorporating amendments to 1 September 2026, do not contain the words resuscitation or CPR, although they regulate pool safety barriers in detail; the Building Code’s pool barrier part has variations for NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, but not Victoria.

One online sign retailer describes its CPR signs as “a legal must-have for all pools and spas across Australia” and says they must be at least 300 by 400 mm. Neither claim matches the rules: Western Australia says signs are not mandatory, and the size written into the Queensland and South Australian rules is 300 by 300 mm.

A pool CPR sign is a legal requirement in NSW, Queensland and South Australia, optional in Western Australia, and not found in Victoria’s building regulations.

What does a pool CPR sign need to say?

NSW is the most prescriptive. Clause 10 of the Swimming Pools Regulation 2018 says the sign must bear a notice containing all of:

the words “Young children should be actively supervised when using this swimming pool”, “Pool gates must be kept closed at all times” and “Keep articles, objects and structures clear of the pool fence at all times”;
a simple flow chart of resuscitation techniques that follows the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guideline and the other guidelines of the Australian Resuscitation Council;
a statement that formal instruction in resuscitation is essential; and
the name of the organisation that published the sign and the date it was published.

Queensland requires the CPR technique in ANZCOR Guideline 8, starting with 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths, plus a prominent emergency statement such as call Triple Zero (000), stay with the injured person, provide first aid. South Australia requires information on first aid procedures including CPR. Both set the 300 × 300 mm minimum and durable, weatherproof material.

The one-sign-fits-three rule: a sign at least 300 × 300 mm, weatherproof, with the three NSW warnings, a current ANZCOR CPR flow chart starting 30 compressions and 2 breaths, an emergency statement, the “formal instruction is essential” line and the publisher’s name and date meets the NSW, Queensland and South Australian wording at once. Check the small print for the publisher and date before you buy; a sign without them does not meet clause 10 in NSW.

Where should the CPR sign go, and does my old sign still count?

Every state that sets a rule puts the sign on the pool barrier or near the pool where people can see it. NSW Fair Trading adds the 3-metre test: the sign must be in good condition and easily readable from 3 m away. Western Australia’s guide suggests within 3 m of the pool, visible from the shallow end, near the gate, out of direct sun, and never somewhere it can be used to climb the fence or on a movable object. QBCC suggests the shallow end or the steps, where you would lift someone out.

The 3-metre test: stand 3 m from the sign; if you cannot read the CPR steps, neither can the person who needs them, and in NSW the sign does not pass.

In NSW a sign put up on or before 31 August 2019 that met the 2008 Regulation is taken to comply, unless the pool is substantially altered or rebuilt. Fair Trading says new pools must use the updated signs. A pool under construction in NSW also needs a separate sign saying “This swimming pool is not to be occupied or used” until an occupation certificate or compliance certificate is issued; that one is also a $110 penalty notice. Queensland requires a construction warning sign within 1.5 m of the road frontage with letters at least 50 mm high.

The sign is one of the items checked when a certificate is issued; see what a pool safety inspector checks, the NSW pool compliance certificate and the Queensland pool safety certificate.

How much does a pool CPR sign cost?

Retailer prices read on 28 October 2026 (retailer-published, GST-inclusive as listed):

Sign	Size	Price	Seller
Corflute (fluted plastic)	300 × 400 mm	$29.80	Online sign retailer A
Vinyl sticker	300 × 400 mm	$32.50	Online sign retailer A
Aluminium composite panel	300 × 400 mm	$64.10	Online sign retailer A
Aluminium composite panel	450 × 600 mm	$79.20	Online sign retailer A
3 mm aluminium composite panel	450 × 600 mm	$55.90	Online safety-supplies retailer B

The cheapest sign here is $29.80 and the dearest $79.20, so the sign is the smallest cost in pool compliance. A vinyl sticker is cheapest to put on glass, but the Queensland and South Australian rules ask for durable, weatherproof material, so an aluminium panel is the safer choice for a sign that has to last years in sun and splash. Fixings and reflective finishes cost more.

If you are building a new pool, ask whether the quote includes the CPR sign and the construction sign; when you compare pool quotes it is a line worth seeing. The other barrier checks that fail inspections are on how to pass a pool barrier inspection first time.

A compliant pool CPR sign costs about $30 to $80 from online retailers, against a $110 penalty notice in NSW for not having one.

Common questions

Is a CPR sign compulsory for a pool in NSW?

Yes. Section 17 of the Swimming Pools Act 1992 requires a sign in a prominent position near the pool, and the Regulation sets its content. The penalty notice is $110.

Do I need a CPR sign for my pool in Queensland?

Yes. The Queensland Government says you must display a CPR sign, at least 300 × 300 mm, durable and weatherproof, on the barrier or near the pool.

Is a pool CPR sign required in WA?

No. The state’s Rules for Pools and Spas guide says CPR signs are not mandatory for swimming and spa pools, but strongly encourages one within 3 m of the pool.

Do I need a CPR sign in Victoria?

We found no requirement. The Victorian Building Regulations 2018, as amended to 1 September 2026, do not mention a resuscitation or CPR sign. One is still worth having.

Does an inflatable pool need a CPR sign?

In NSW, yes: Fair Trading says the CPR sign rule includes portable pools. Elsewhere, a pool that can hold more than 300 mm is treated as a pool under the state’s rules.

How big does a pool CPR sign have to be?

At least 300 × 300 mm in Queensland and South Australia. NSW sets no size but says it must be readable from 3 m.

Sources

General information only, current at 2026-10-28. Pool rules differ by state and by council, and penalty amounts are updated regularly. Confirm your own obligations with your council or a registered inspector before acting.