You must apply for a permit to light a fire in the open air on land, including in an incinerator, unless:
- you are using a barbecue, pizza oven or other properly constructed appliance for cooking food
- you are using a fire in a brazier or chimenea for heating
- you are using a tool of trade for the purpose for which it was designed
- a member of a fire and emergency services agency lights a fire during the course of their duty
- Council grants you an exemption to the land size restriction of 4,000 square metres or less.
In addition to the conditions listed above and below, you must check CFA Total Fire Ban information and fire danger ratings before burning off.
Changes from 25 September 2023
Following the adoption of a new Community Local Law, the following burning off rules and regulations will apply from 25 September 2023 (except during October 2023 while restrictions are lifted to help landowners prepare their properties for the upcoming fire season - see above).
If your property is less than 2,000 square metres
From 1 November 2023, burning in the open air will be prohibited.
If your property is between 2,000 square metres and less than or equal to 4,000 square metres (one acre)
You must apply for a permit to burn off.
To apply for a permit to burn, complete an application and submit it to Council. There is no charge for a permit to burn application:
If your property is above 4,000 square metres (one acre), but less than 40,000 square metres
You don't need a permit to light a fire in the open air on land, including in an incinerator, if:
- you do not light a fire or allow it to remain alight before 8am or after 6pm on any day
- you do not burn more than 10 cubic metres of vegetation at any one time
- the fire is not within 50 metres of any neighbouring dwelling
- the fire is not offensive and does not cause any nuisance to another person in the vicinity or outside of the property boundary.
If your property is above 40,000 square metres
You don't need a permit to light a fire in the open air on land, including in an incinerator, if:
- you do not burn more than 100 cubic metres (e.g. 5 metres wide x 5 metres long x 4 metres high) of vegetation at any one time
- the fire is not within 100 metres of any neighbouring dwelling
- the fire is not offensive and does not cause any nuisance to another person in the vicinity or beyond the property boundary.