Burning off

A temporary burn-off exemption will be introduced throughout October to help landowners prepare their properties ahead of the upcoming fire season

In consultation with local CFA brigades, Council will allow registered open-air burns on land 4,000 square metres or less without a permit for the month of October, giving landowners ample time to clear their property and minimise fire risk before the official Fire Danger Period starts.

If burning off, landowners or residents must monitor weather conditions before starting any fire and must register their burn by calling 1800 668 511.

They are also encouraged to:

• check carefully for any wildlife that may have taken up residency in bonfire piles
• consider and minimise the impact on neighbours
• ensure sufficient fire suppression equipment is on site
• closely monitor burn-offs for at least seven days, to ensure they are fully extinguished.

From 1 November, burning-off restrictions will revert back to the requirements under the Local Law 2023, as outlined below.

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:

• Online application - permit to burn
• Application form - permit to burn(DOCX, 187KB)
• Application form - permit to burn(PDF, 200KB)

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.

When burning off, you must ensure that:

• the fire is not offensive or a nuisance to another person in the area or outside of the property boundary
• the fire does not cause a hazard to any person's health
• the fire does not affect visibility outside of the property boundary, this includes reducing visibility for motorists and other users of a public road
• the fire does not create a hazard on or near a public road
• the fire is supervised by an adult at all times
• sufficient fire protection equipment is available to extinguish the fire if required
• the vegetation to be burnt must be dead and dry before you light it
• the wind speed at the site of the fire must not be more than 15 kilometres an hour (8 knots).

You must not burn or cause any of the following to be burnt:

• green or wet material
• non timber based building materials
• rubber or plastic, including plastic mulch, plant pots and packaging materials
• furnishings and carpets
• manufactured chemicals
• petroleum or oil products
• paint, including any container in which paint is kept
• food waste
• manure and straw
• household waste
• other offensive, noxious or toxic matter; or
• animals or animal parts.

No burning off is permitted during the Fire Danger Period without a Permit to Burn, which can be applied for through the Fire Permits Victoria.