Permits to Burn

Open air burning (burning off) can be used as a method to reduce fuel loads of green waste or ecological purposes.

Council's General Local Law No.1 - 2013, states:

3.3 Open Air Burning

3.3.1 Without a permit a person must not light a fire in the open air on land which is less than 2 hectares in area, unless the fire is lit to use:

(a) a barbecue for the purpose of cooking food providing the activity does not cause a nuisance to any person; or

(b) a trade tool for its designed purpose.

3.3.2 Nothing in sub-clause 3.3.1 applies to land which is “farm land” within the meaning of the Valuation of the Land Act 1960.

3.3.3 A person must not place or use an incinerator on any land.

3.3.4 A person must not burn any object or material so as to cause a nuisance to another person.

3.3.5 A person must not light a fire in the open air on a declared smog alert day.

When burning off, there are many things you need to consider before you do. Some of these are:

Before burning off the CFA states:

Check and follow local regulations or laws set down by CFA or your local Council,
Notify neighbours at least two hours before starting the burn,
Notify the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) on 1800 668 511 to register your burn,
Check the weather forecast for the day of the burn and a few days afterwards,
Check the fuel moisture conditions,
Establish a fire break of no less than three metres cleared of all flammable material,
Make sure there are enough people to monitor, contain and extinguish the burn safely and effectively.

It is important that if you are burning off you register with ESTA, unregistered burn-offs can cause fire brigades to be called out unnecessarily. To register your burn with ESTA you can complete the Burn Off Notification Form and email burnoffs@esta.vic.gov.au

Burning Off Outside the Declared Fire Danger Period

A permit to burn is required to open air burning on land less than 2 hectares outside the declared Fire Danger Period. These permits are also not valid on a total fire ban day.

If your land is over 2 hectares and you wish to burn off outside the declared Fire Danger Period, you do not require a permit from Council.

Burning Off During the Declared Fire Danger Period

If your land is over 2 hectares and you are considering to burn off during the declared Fire Danger Period you must apply for a permit to burn.

If your land is less than 2 hectares no permit to burn will be issued during the declared Fire Danger Period. These permits are also not valid on a total fire ban day.