How this page works
Every answer opens with the answer, then the context that stops it misleading you. Dollar figures are Perth metro bands current at August 2026, taken from — and explained properly on — the cost guide. Permit answers summarise the WA framework covered with sources on the council approvals page.
Money
How much does it cost to remove a pool in Perth? Partial removal of a concrete pool $4,000–$9,500; full concrete removal $8,500–$16,000; fibreglass $3,500–$8,500; above-ground $1,100–$3,200; in-ground spas $2,200–$4,800. Access surcharges, crane lifts and backfill at $50–$95 per m³ sit on top where they apply.
Partial versus full? Partial is cheaper because the shell stays in the ground; full is worth it when you might ever build on, or sell on the strength of, that patch of yard.
The sand question
Can I just fill my pool with sand? Not if you want a result a council, a builder or a buyer will accept. An unbroken shell is an underground tank; loose fill settles for years; the footprint can never carry a structure; and an undocumented buried pool is a disclosure problem waiting for settlement day. The legitimate version of the cheap option is partial removal — shell punctured and collapsed, fill compacted in layers, council notified — which captures most of the saving without burying a liability in your backyard.
Rules and paperwork
Council approval: generally required — a BA5 demolition permit or, in some councils, a formal decommissioning notification, usually with a final inspection before the pool comes off the barrier-inspection register. Confirm with your own council.
The fence: stays up (or is replaced by compliant temporary fencing) until the shell can no longer hold 300 mm of water. Not negotiable under WA's barrier rules.
Selling later: disclose the removal and hand over the permit and compaction records. Done properly and documented, a removed pool is a selling point — a bigger usable backyard — not a defect.
Still unanswered?
If your question is about your pool — its construction, your side access, what is under your paving — it needs eyes on site, not a webpage. Call (08) 6171 3458 and describe the pool, the access and what you want the space to become; the enquiry is referred to an independent Perth contractor who can answer for real and put a fixed price in writing. Coverage is set out on the suburbs page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to remove a swimming pool in Perth?
As at August 2026: $4,000 to $9,500 for partial removal of a concrete pool (collapse and fill), $8,500 to $16,000 for full removal of a concrete pool, $3,500 to $8,500 for a fibreglass pool, $1,100 to $3,200 for an above-ground pool and $2,200 to $4,800 for an in-ground spa. Tight side access adds $1,200 to $3,800, a crane lift $900 to $2,500, and backfill runs $50 to $95 per cubic metre. Pool size, concrete versus fibreglass, access width and groundwater decide where in the band your job lands.
Can I just fill my pool with sand myself?
You can physically tip sand into a pool shell, but as a way of decommissioning a pool it fails on almost every count. An intact shell holds water, so unbroken floors and walls leave you with an underground tank that fills each winter; unengineered, uncompacted fill settles for years, sinking lawns and cracking paving; nothing can ever be built on the footprint; most Perth councils will not sign off on it or remove the pool from their inspection register; and an undocumented buried pool becomes a serious disclosure problem when you sell. Proper removal punctures or removes the shell, and places fill compacted in layers — that difference is what you are paying for.
Do I need council approval to remove a pool in Perth?
Generally yes. An in-ground pool is treated as an incidental structure under the Building Act 2011 (WA), so demolishing one usually needs a demolition permit (form BA5) from your local government — and even councils that run a lighter notification process still need to be told, because they keep a register of pools for mandatory safety-barrier inspections and commonly inspect before closing yours out. Requirements differ between Perth councils, so confirm with your own council's building services team. The council approvals page on this site explains the framework with sources.
What is the difference between partial and full pool removal?
Partial removal breaks down the top of the pool walls and punctures the floor for drainage, then backfills over the collapsed rubble — cheaper, because most of the shell never leaves the ground. Full removal digs out the entire shell, carts it away and rebuilds the hole with clean compacted fill. The cost gap is real (roughly $4,000 to $9,500 versus $8,500 to $16,000 for concrete as at August 2026), but so is the difference in what you get: a partially removed pool generally cannot be built over and should be disclosed at sale, while a properly documented full removal returns the space to ordinary ground.
Can you build over a removed pool?
Over a full removal with engineered, compacted, documented backfill — usually yes, subject to a geotechnical assessment and your builder's and council's requirements. Over a partial removal — generally no, because the buried shell and mixed rubble cannot be relied on to carry footings, and rectifying that later means digging most of it out again. If there is any chance of an extension, granny flat, garage or subdivision on that part of the block, say so before quoting: it decides the removal method, and choosing partial to save money first is the expensive order to do things in.
Do I have to tell buyers a pool was removed?
Practically, yes — disclose it and hand over the paperwork. WA has famously thin formal vendor-disclosure requirements compared with other states, but sellers and agents must not mislead buyers, a buried pool shell is exactly the kind of material fact that misleading-conduct claims are built on, and the council's permit records mean it is discoverable anyway. A documented full removal with compaction records is a non-issue for buyers; an undocumented or partial fill on the quiet is a price-negotiation problem at best. Keep the permit, scope and compaction documentation and provide them up front.
How long does pool removal take?
Most Perth pool removals take two to five working days on site once approvals are in place: roughly a day of draining and demolition for a fibreglass shell, two to three days of breaking and carting for concrete, then backfilling and compaction in layers. Tight access can stretch that considerably — hand demolition or mini-machinery can double the on-site time — and winter groundwater can add pumping delays. Add the council's permit assessment (commonly up to ten business days for a compliant demolition permit application) ahead of the start date.
What happens to the water, and can it go on the garden?
The pool has to be drained before demolition, and chlorinated or salt water should not simply be pumped over the fence or into the street. The usual approach in Perth is to dechlorinate and discharge gradually to soakage on your own block, or to dispose of it as your council directs — several LGAs publish specific rules about draining to the sewer requiring the water authority's approval. Ask the contractor to include draining in the written scope so the method and destination are agreed before pumps start.
Does this site do the demolition work itself?
No — Pool Demolition Perth is a referral website. Your call or enquiry form goes to an independent pool removal contractor operating in the Perth metro area, who quotes, contracts and does the work in their own name. The operator of this site does not carry out demolition and does not verify any contractor's licence or insurance, so before engaging anyone check their licence with WorkSafe WA and ask for a current certificate of currency for public liability insurance. The disclaimer page sets out exactly what this site is and is not.